SALT LAKE CITY — It’s that time of year again. No more sneezing, no more coughing.
The flu is already on the radar of Utah families, and with holiday gatherings ahead, health experts are also monitoring RSV.
For babies, even an illness that initially seems like a cold can be more difficult to combat.
“Their immune system is very young. It’s very immature and they don’t have the ability to fight off a lot of different viruses,” said Carolyn Reynolds, executive director of Intermountain Children’s Health’s outpatient clinical program.
Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is the leading cause of infant hospitalization nationwide. And while Reynolds said cases in Utah are currently low, she expects an uptick in the coming weeks.
“I believe after Thanksgiving, before Christmas, RSV will raise its head and we will start to see it,” she said.
RSV may feel like a cold at first. Think runny nose, cough or fever, making it difficult to know whether it’s RSV or the flu. Reynolds said a pediatrician can help you determine what’s making your child sick.
The CDC advises seeing a doctor if your child has trouble breathing, isn’t drinking enough fluids, or has symptoms that get worse.
Vaccination can help protect babies from serious RSV. Pregnant women can receive the RSV vaccine between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy and pass protective antibodies to their baby. Eligible babies can also receive an antibody shot after birth.
During the 2024-2025 RSV season, 16,000 Utah babies received protection, making them nine times less likely to end up in the hospital.
And children can get the flu vaccine from 6 months old.
Families can also take simple precautions during holiday gatherings, such as washing their hands often and asking guests to avoid kissing the baby’s face.
“Don’t leave your baby with a lot of people who you don’t know if they are sick or not,” Reynolds said. “Take care of your children. Do everything you can to protect them so you can have a wonderful holiday season.”
Parents can call their pediatrician’s office or county health department to inquire about a flu shot or RSV protection for their baby. Most insurance plans cover the RSV vaccine for free, and uninsured families can get it for free through Utah’s Vaccines for Children program.
The key takeaways from this article were generated with the help of large language models and reviewed by our editorial team. The article itself is solely written by humans.
Gn Health
