BIRMINGHAM, Ala — Although COVID isn't over, the number of deaths and hospitalizations are decreasing. But dangers of the flu and RSV are rising. And this has health officials calling it the 'tripledemic'.
Alabama medical professionals share more about the illnesses and how to stay healthy.
Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo, UAB's Division of Infectious Diseases Director said, "this winter, we may see not only these COVID variants causing trouble, but also influenza and RSV or respiratory syncytial virus."
Dr. Claudette Poole, Associate Program Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases with UAB and Children's of Alabama said, "we're playing a bit of catch up. So children who normally would not get severe symptoms with the influenza or RSV because they had the most severe illness in the year prior... We're now seeing a sort of double volume of children who will be exposed, who will get symptomatic."
As COVID variants mutate and we move into the colder months, medical professionals are also concerned by the upward trend in the flu and RSV. Kids being fully back in the classroom or in daycare is making it easier for viruses to spread, as we've seen this week in Decatur and in Lincoln County schools. And although RSV can pose minimal risk in healthy adults, it can be dangerous for some children.
"RSV can settle in your lungs and it can cause a wheezing type of illness with difficulty breathing. And if your child is struggling to breathe…those would be the indications when I would say, okay, now it's time to take your child to the emergency room, if your doctor's office is not easily accessible," Dr. Poole said.
Doctors say if we follow the Northeast's trend, we may see a surge in hospitalizations for the flu this year. This is why they highly encourage getting both the flu vaccine and a COVID booster.
"Other measures are to keep your children home from daycare or school if they are sick, because these viruses spread very effectively in closed environments," Dr. Poole said.
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