Flu A Cases Decline But Still Remain High at Cook Children's
Flu cases declined last week compared to the prior week, but many patients are still testing positive for the flu at Cook Children's Health Care System. Families and caregivers are encouraged to remain vigilant against the flu, RSV and other respiratory illnesses.
From Nov. 27 to Dec. 3, there were 533 flu A cases, a positivity rate of 33.8%. Protect yourself and your family by getting vaccinated against the flu and COVID. The flu vaccine works to prevent you from catching the flu or by reducing the severity if you do come down with the illness.
In addition to causing respiratory symptoms, the flu can also cause myositis, which results in significant muscle pain and requires admission for IV hydration and pain management. The best way to prevent influenza-associated pneumonia and influenza-induced myositis is to get your flu vaccine.
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are declining compared to previous weeks, but remain high. We are also seeing positive cases of COVID and rhinovirus in our patients.
“There are not any current treatments for RSV,” said Laura Romano, D.O., Hospitalist at Cook Children’s Medical Center. “There is also currently not a vaccine available. We can use Synagis, a monoclonal antibody, to help prevent severe infections but that is reserved for certain patients such as our premature infants, our infants with congenital heart or lung disease, infants with compromised immune systems, or some infants with certain neurological conditions."
Cook Children’s has expedited our winter staffing plan in preparation for peak flu season. Our census is full, including beds, the Emergency Department and Urgent Care Centers. Wait times are extremely long. We ask parents and caregivers to contact their pediatrician unless their child has a moderate or severe illness or injury.
Patient Census
In the last 24 hours, 560 patients went to the Emergency Department, which is equivalent to one check in every 2 minutes. This is causing long wait times (8-10 hours) to transfer patients to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Across our seven Urgent Care Centers, we saw 654 patients on Friday, 653 patients on Saturday, 677 patients on Sunday and 528 patients in the last 24 hours.
There are steps families can take to avoid getting sick. Parents and caregivers can remind their children to continue the healthy habits learned in the pandemic, including hand hygiene, coughing into a tissue or your elbow and staying home if you or your child feel sick. Face masks add increased protection, especially in public spaces.
Last year, more people were wearing face masks and children were more likely to stay home while sick. This year, parents are sending their children to daycare and school for the first time following two years of the pandemic, Dr. Romano said. Children who haven’t been previously exposed to respiratory viruses are among the many children who are getting sick.
Positive Influenza A cases at Cook Children’s Health Care System:
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: 47 cases
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: 75 cases
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: 170 cases (14.6% positivity rate)
Oct. 30- Nov. 5: 333 cases (22.6% positivity rate)
Nov. 6 - Nov. 12: 483 cases (27.5% positivity rate)
Nov. 13 - Nov. 19: 630 cases (35.4% positivity rate)
Nov. 20 - Nov. 26: 812 cases (42.3% positivity rate)
Nov. 27 - Dec. 3: 533 cases (33.8% positivity rate)
RSV cases at Cook Children’s Health Care System:
Oct. 2 – Oct 8: 210 cases (24% positivity rate)
Oct. 9 – Oct. 15: 288 cases (29% positivity rate)
Oct. 16 – Oct. 22: 246 cases (24% positivity rate)
Oct. 23 – Oct. 29: 263 cases (23% positivity rate)
Oct. 30 - Nov. 5: 337 cases (23% positivity rate)
Nov. 6 - Nov. 12: 342 cases (19% positivity rate)
Nov. 13 - Nov. 19: 267 cases (15% positivity rate)
Nov. 20 - Nov. 26: 222 cases (12% positivity rate)
Nov. 27 - Dec. 3: 174 cases(11% positivity rate)
Pediatrician Offices
Call your pediatrician first if children are experiencing mild symptoms or injuries (ear pain, sore throat, diarrhea or vomiting, rash, cough or other non-urgent health concerns). The pediatrician’s office can help you decide what steps to take.
As we prepare for the flu season to worsen, make an appointment with your pediatrician to get updated flu and COVID vaccines. Vaccines help prevent infection and can prevent serious outcomes in people who are vaccinated but still get sick with the flu. The vaccines also reduce the risk of hospitalization.
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Urgent Care Centers
If your child is ill, please contact your pediatrician's office first if it is not a moderate or severe illness or injury. If you cannot get to your provider’s office or it’s after hours, go to an urgent care center. Urgent care centers manage the same problems as your regular health care provider plus services such as X-rays, stitches and splints.
Understand that kids with more severe issues will be seen first and that means long wait times for those with minor illnesses. Staff are overwhelmed and they’re encountering a lot of frustrated parents. Please be nice to the people working – they need kindness!
Emergency Department
Bring your child to the emergency room if they have trouble breathing, unusual sleepiness or confusion, poison ingestion, head injury with vomiting, serious burn or another life-threatening condition.
Seek immediate medical care if your child is experiencing:
- Persistent fever for more than two or three days. However, any temperature greater than 100.4 in an infant under two months of age is considered a medical emergency.
- 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.
- Breathing faster than usual or 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.
- Please understand that kids with more severe issues will be seen first and that means long wait times for those with minor illnesses.
Preparation/Prevention
As we prepare for the flu season to worsen, make an appointment with your pediatrician to get updated flu and COVID vaccines. Vaccines help prevent infection and can prevent serious outcomes in people who are vaccinated but still get sick with the flu. The vaccines also reduce the risk of hospitalization.
Get updated flu and COVID vaccines – these will help prevent infection and reduce the risk of hospitalization. You can call your pediatrician to schedule an appointment to receive vaccinations.
- Teach your children to cough or sneeze into their elbow.
- Use hand sanitizer.
- If you’re sick, wear a mask in public and stay home.
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About Cook Children's
Cook Children’s Health Care System embraces an inspiring Promise – to improve the health of every child through the prevention and treatment of illness, disease and injury. Based in Fort Worth, Texas, we’re proud of our long and rich tradition of serving our community. Our not-for-profit organization is comprised of nine companies, including our Medical Center, Physician Network, Home Health company, Northeast Hospital, Pediatric Surgery Center, Health Plan, Health Services Inc., Child Study Center and Health Foundation. With more than 60 primary, specialty and urgent care locations throughout Texas, families can access our top-ranked specialty programs and network of services to meet the unique needs of their child. For 100 years, we’ve worked to improve the health of children from across our primary service area of Denton, Hood, Johnson, Parker, Tarrant and Wise counties. We combine the art of caring with leading technology and extraordinary collaboration to provide exceptional care for every child. This has earned Cook Children’s a strong, far-reaching reputation with patients traveling from around the country and the globe to receive life-saving pediatric care. For more information, visit cookchildrens.org.
