The flu is an infection of the respiratory tract (nose, throat, and lungs) that is caused by a virus. It can spread easily from person to person. Usually during cold and flu season, most children will experience very mild symptoms that normally self-resolve within a few days, said Cook Children’s hospitalist Laura Romano, D.O.

Flu activity is considered widespread in Tarrant County, according to Tarrant County Public Health. This flu season, we are admitting larger numbers of older, previously healthy children with difficulty breathing and flu-related pneumonia at the Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth, Dr. Romano said.

Most are requiring supplemental oxygen and some require ICU admission. While this has not been uncommon during prior flu seasons, this is now becoming the norm for admissions rather than the exception, Dr. Romano said.

“Overall, it seems that the flu is not going away anytime soon this season,” Dr. Romano said.

From Feb. 4 to Feb.10, out of 1,593 tests conducted, 16% were positive for flu A and 21% were positive for flu B, according to lab data at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth.

This is a decrease compared to the prior week (Jan. 28 to Feb. 3), which showed a 22% positivity rate for flu A and 24% positivity rate for flu B.

High Patient Volume

Cook Children’s Urgent Care Centers and the Emergency Department at Cook Children’s Medical Center - Fort Worth are experiencing high volumes from circulating viruses such as COVID, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

From Jan. 9 to Feb. 5, Cook Children’s Urgent Care Centers saw 6,806 patients, and the Emergency Department in Fort Worth saw 3,437. These numbers are almost double what they were in early January and leading to crowded medical facilities and long wait times.

On Friday, Feb. 9, our UCCs saw 760 patients in 24 hours and the Emergency Department at Cook Children’s Medical Center – Fort Worth saw 435 patients.

“We are seeing tons of flu,” said Kara Starnes, D.O., medical director of Cook Children’s Urgent Care Centers. “I have three kids of my own, so I know having a sick child can bring some anxiety but, in many cases, children with upper respiratory illnesses like COVID, flu and RSV do just fine being cared for at home and do not require a visit to urgent care or the ER.”

Dr. Starnes says it is safe to manage your child’s symptoms at home as long as they are not displaying signs of respiratory distress or dehydration. Reserving visits to urgent care or the emergency department for truly urgent needs will help reduce wait times, conserve resources and limit your child’s exposure to other viruses.

Signs and Symptoms

COVID-19, flu and RSV are caused by different viruses, but all are upper respiratory illnesses that share similar symptoms such as:

• Fever
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Sore throat
• Runny or stuffy nose
• Muscle pain and body aches
• Headache
• Vomiting and diarrhea
• Loss of appetite, taste or smell
• Shortness of breath

Managing Symptoms

There are a few things you can do to keep your child comfortable while the illness runs its course.

Over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen and acetaminophen can help reduce fever, aches and pains. Ibuprofen should not be given to infants younger than 6 months.

A fever is defined as a temperature of 100.4 or above. A temperature above 100.4 in babies less than 2 months old is a medical emergency and needs to be evaluated in the emergency room. Any fever lasting longer than four to five days, or one that continues to climb and does not break with fever reducers, should be evaluated by a physician. Otherwise, it’s safe to manage fever at home.

Keep your child hydrated by encouraging fluids every few hours. Electrolyte drinks can be helpful if you suspect your child is dehydrated or at risk of becoming dehydrated. If they aren’t interested in drinking, have them suck on a popsicle.

To help reduce congestion, keep the sinuses moist with saline drops and a cool-mist humidifier. This is especially helpful during sleep times.

If your child appears to be in respiratory distress or severely dehydrated, it’s time to go to urgent care or the emergency department.

●      Signs of respiratory distress:

• Increased number of breaths per minute
• Increased heart rate
• Bluish color around the mouth, on the lips or on the fingernails.
• Pale or grayish skin
• A grunting sound during exhale
• Nose flaring
• Chest appears to sink in with each breath
• Head bobbing when breathing in
• Change in alertness

●      Signs of dehydration:

• Urine output significantly below the child’s normal (Your child should be producing urine at least once every 8 hours.)
• Not producing tears when crying and eyes appear sunken
• In infants, the soft spot on top of their heads looks sunken
• Dried mucus membranes (lining within the nostrils, mouth, throat, ears, genitals and anus)
• Sleepy and unresponsive

On January 25, Cook Children’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit hit its highest patient volume with 101 babies. Brittany McLaughlin, NICU Director, says this milestone is evidence of the continued growth in our community and its impact on our hospital. 

“We are so very grateful to have the unit and resources to care for the infants in the community that need our support,” said McLaughlin. “We wish our services were not needed but we are thankful that we are here to provide for these infants and their families.”

Cook Children’s NICU has 99 private rooms and is the only one in Tarrant County that offers single-patient rooms. With roughly 450 employees, the department is the size of a small hospital in itself.

Support NICU Patients and Families

The milestone coincides with one of the biggest fundraisers supporting Cook Children’s NICU. On Wednesday, January 31, the legendary Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo will donate half of all proceeds from tickets to Cook Children’s NICU.

Stock Show and Rodeo President, Brad Barnes, is proud to be a continuous source of support for Cook Children’s.

“The joy that comes with knowing the children at Cook Children’s will benefit from this special rodeo performance is immeasurable,” he said. “Of all the projects we’re involved with in this wonderful city, hosting Cook Children’s Day stands out among them all. We look forward to seeing Dickies Arena packed for this wonderful event.”

Brittany says if you live in Fort Worth and have never been to the rodeo, now’s the time.

“It's so much fun, and the fact that this night also directly impacts our tiny patients is just the icing on the cake,” she said.

Treasured Partners

The love and support given to the Cook Children’s NICU does not go unnoticed by the staff.

“I can’t express how blessed I feel every day to be able to come to work and have all the resources we need,” says McLaughlin. “It helps us as a staff to focus on what really matters and take better care of our tiny patients.” 

“As the only Level IV NICU in Tarrant County, we provide the highest level of care available to the sickest babies in our communities,” said Grant Harris, Chief Development Officer of Cook Children’s Health Foundation. “We hope families never need to visit our NICU, but if they do, partners like the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo help make it possible for their babies to receive world-class care right here in Fort Worth.”

Purchase tickets for Cook Children’s Day at the Rodeo here. Can’t make it to the event? Support Cook Children’s NICU families by making a donation here.