This week, Cook Children’s Medical Centers saw a steep increase in children visiting the emergency room due to respiratory-related illnesses. The influx is forcing young patients to wait for a hospital bed. 
On Tuesday alone, Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth saw 572 patients in the Emergency Department and the seven Urgent Care Centers saw 842 patients. The numbers are near-record highs. Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper is also experiencing high patient volumes, with most cases at the emergency department being respiratory-related illnesses. From Nov. 10 to Nov. 16, 29 out of 113 patients tested for RSV at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Prosper, 29 tested positive.
This week, the Prosper emergency department has seen a record number of patients. Most patients are being admitted for either RSV, pneumonia or asthma.
The surge in hospital visits is due to a sharp spread of RSV and Mycoplasma pneumoniae (walking pneumonia) cases in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. While the rise of respiratory cases happens each year around this time, RSV cases spiked more quickly than usual this year, said Medical Director for Emergency Services Taylor Louden, M.D. Across the system, 23% of patients tested for RSV last week tested positive.
“You know, we’ve seen over 1,100 patients in the last two days and through the ER, so it’s been very difficult for us to manage this volume all at once,” Dr. Louden said.
Of the 972 patients tested at Cook Children’s Medical Center-Fort Worth from Nov. 10 to Nov. 16, 224 tested positive for RSV. Out of 624 patients tested for walking pneumonia at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth, 99 tested positive.
What is RSV and when should I seek emergency care?
RSV typically impacts kids under the age of two most and can cause a build-up of mucus and congestion that makes it difficult for kids to breathe. Parents should take precautions to limit further spread of the virus. Stay home if you are sick and keep kids home if they are showing symptoms. RSV vaccines are available for pregnant women, babies and elderly people.
If your child is sick, parents and caregivers can help reduce stress on the emergency services system by knowing when to bring a child into the emergency room and when to schedule an appointment. Limiting emergency room traffic to true emergencies helps keep the hospital system from being too overwhelmed.
If your child is sick but not experiencing severe issues such as trouble breathing or obvious dehydration, consult with your pediatrician and, if possible, schedule an urgent care appointment for your child instead of visiting the emergency room.
If your child is in respiratory distress, you should call 911. In respiratory distress, a child might turn blue around the nose and mouth, have labored and rapid breathing, have severe shortness of breath or have a rapid heart rate.
RSV is treated by monitoring and treating symptoms; there is no cure for the virus. Many viral respiratory illnesses can be treated at home through rest, plenty of hydration and electrolytes. For congestion, parents and caregivers can use nasal saline to thin the mucus and suction it out with a bulb syringe.
What is walking pneumonia?
Walking pneumonia cases have been consistently high since this summer, Louden said. From Nov. 10 to Nov. 16, 99 kids tested positive for the illness. Last year at this time, Cook Children’s reported less than 10 cases of walking pneumonia between August and December.
Walking pneumonia typically impacts school-age children. Some of the symptoms include: low-grade fever, fatigue and cough. Most atypical pneumonia cases can be treated with antibiotics, but if your child has pneumonia and has had a fever for more than five days and/or having difficulty breathing, seek emergency care.
Pneumonia, RSV, the flu and COVID-19 can all have similar symptoms. Flu and COVID-19 may also include sore throat, headaches, body aches, chills and change/loss of taste and smell. Parents should not go to urgent care or the emergency department for an RSV, flu or COVID test. Your pediatrician can test for all of these.
In many cases, physicians can assess and treat a patient via a virtual health appointment. Download the MyCookChildrens app to schedule a virtual health/telemedicine appointment.
When to Seek Immediate Care:
- Any temperature greater than 100.4 in an infant under two months of age is considered a medical emergency. If your child has a fever for more than three days, contact your pediatrician or visit an urgent care center.
- Concerns for dehydration. In dehydrated babies, parents will see fewer wet diapers or a lack of tears. Their flat spot can also appear more sunken.
- Your child is breathing faster than usual or you can see the skin between the ribs being sucked in.
- If your child is requiring frequent use of their albuterol rescue inhaler or is having worsening asthma symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of RSV in infants younger than 6 months may include:
- Irritability
- Poor feeding
- Lethargy
- Episodes where they stop breathing
- Fever
Infants and children over 6 months may experience:
- Runny nose
- Loss of appetite
- Cough
- Sneezing
- Fever
- Sometimes wheezing
Practice Prevention
When it comes to respiratory illnesses, prevention is always the best medicine, especially as we approach the holidays and the many indoor gatherings they bring. Vaccines can help reduce the spread and severity of illness and prevent hospitalization. It’s not too late to get your child’s flu shot or COVID vaccine. Call your pediatrician to make an appointment.
Remind your children to practice healthy habits such as washing their hands and coughing into a tissue or their elbow. If you or your child feels sick, stay home to prevent spreading illness, take time to rest and stay hydrated with lots of fluids.
