Originally Published by NorthJersey.com
Packed pediatricians’ offices. Late-night visits to the emergency room. Bare pharmacy shelves.
Those were some of the scenes that played out in New Jersey last fall when the flu, RSV and to a lesser extent COVID developed into a “tripledemic” that created a wave of sick children and a shortage of basic medication.
With parents beginning to prepare for the start of the new school year in two weeks, doctors and public health officials say the region could again have a rough cold and flu season.
“We anticipate as high a volume as last year,” said Dr. Katharine Clouser, a pediatrician and vice chair of clinical affairs for Hackensack Meridian Health. “We often look to the Southern Hemisphere and especially Australia to see how they’ve handled respiratory illness during their winter, and they’ve had a tough RSV and flu season.”
There are more options for parents this year, with new medication and vaccines that could help prevent the worst symptoms from emerging. But the process may require as many as three injections for the youngest children.
Of all the respiratory diseases that affect young children, none is more prevalent than RSV — respiratory syncytial virus. Its impact can range from minor cold-like symptoms to serious lung ailments such as bronchiolitis or pneumonia.
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