Hospitals are seeing an unusual rise in cases of RSV, a respiratory virus that can be dangerous for infants, young children, and older adults. This comes as flu season is expected to collide with a winter surge in Covid cases, raising concerns of a possible "triple-demic" in the coming weeks. Dr. Sampson Davis, an emergency medicine physician, joined Cheddar's News Wrap to discuss the various viruses going around, and how best to stay healthy this season.

What to Know About The Rise in RSV Cases

Welcome back everyone hospitals are seeing an unusual rise in cases of RSV, that's a respiratory virus that can be dangerous for infants, young Children and older adults. This comes a slew season is expected to collide with a winter surge in covid cases raising concerns of a possible triple des Mc in the coming weeks. I know you've heard that word a lot here discussed all of this is Dr Sampson Davis, emergency medicine physician. Dr first. Welcome to the show. Welcome in studio. I've only talked to you through zoom or Skype. We love having you first. Tell us what is R. S. V. And what are the most common symptoms that people should know about? Yeah. So, you know, RSV is is a virus is similar to coronavirus is similar to the flu is its own sort of name brand of a virus and the unfortunate part, the same symptoms you see with the flu. The same symptoms you see with coronavirus, you will see with RSV, which is fever, cough congestion. It really impacts the younger kids and the older adults. So it's kind of by motor or two sort of different ends of the book spectrum. Why are we seeing a rise in RSV cases this year specifically. Well, get prepared. I mean, we were protected for the last two years in some ways. Right. With coronavirus, we relied dormant. We stayed in our doors, we wore masks. So RSV was still out, there was still sort of lingering. So the immune system is what sort of fights off these viral agents that is weakened somewhat against RSV right now because it's been unexposed. The immune system has been unexposed to the past 2.5 years. So now the virus is going to attack these weakened immune systems. Are we seeing this already impact hospitals, which of course are already dealing with shortages when it comes to health care staff. I'm seeing it. I'm seeing it. I had a 10 month old the other day came in, respiratory breathing problems retracting. You see the airways sort of their chest walls came in. Uh, you know, our Children are the most exposed at this age because they're unimmunized. They haven't received all the vaccinations and they never saw us being their lives. You think about it? They were born before Covid or after Covid. I'm sorry, flu cases are higher than usual this year around two does that go back to, we're just not wearing masks anymore. We're not socially distancing. How concerned are experts like yourself of the Triple des Mick this winter? It's it's possible that epidemic is uh, is something that is of concern and realistic. That's why we urge to get your flu vaccination is so important. We don't have RsV vaccination, but we have flu and we have Covid. So with the same thought in mind that our immune system has not been exposed or under exposed to the flu for the past few years. Under exposed to RsV for the past few years. We run an increased risk of seeing people with flu. and we're seeing it with RsV and Covid and there's no rhyme or reason why they can't have both or all three. You mentioned vaccinations. Is there any way to keep this under control? Uh, yeah, I mean it's it's vaccinations. It's RsV really takes precedence on like door knobs, countertops. So sanitized in the area. Of course, washing your hands. Uh, no. The unpopular face mask is not something that we want to see come back, but that's something that helps to prevent us from sort of being exposed to the flu. RSV and coronavirus from my next question, How can people protect them? So are we bringing back the masks and social distancing? I hope not. I hope not. I think as long as we see coronavirus sort of under control, we'll be OK. RsV is expected. It's been around forever, flu is expected. It's been around forever. Most important thing is to get your flu shots. RsV just stay on top of it. If you have asthma, you had increased risk. Any respiratory illnesses or respiratory compromise runs an increased risk of decompensating if you receive or catch our speed. As the holidays approach, families are getting together. Friends are getting together. People are traveling. Should we be concerned even more going into the upcoming months. I think so, I think we have to be aware and self monitor ourselves. So, if you know you're going to thanksgiving dinner, Hanukkah, Halloween and you're having symptoms stay home. You know, you don't want to bring it to your grandmother. You don't wanna bring it to the brand new bundle of joy, that's your niece or your nephew or your grand baby. So you have to self monitor yourself if you have any sort of cold like symptoms, stay home. Obviously, if you're feeling sick in any type of way, you want to make sure you make your way to the emergency department, what are you seeing inside the hospitals currently And you expect that to rise? I think it's, you know, we're seeing it sort of RSV, we're seeing the same sort of impact saying with flu as coronavirus, we're seeing certain states now really under the gun, right? They're really suffering from an increase in RsV in texas and Connecticut. It will hit here in sort of new york, New Jersey, the tristate area eventually. I mean, it's going to happen. It's just a matter of time. So I think we're just monitoring it. The one thing to keep in mind, we do not have as many pediatric beds as we do adult beds in the hospital point. So we have to make sure that one, you know, we do our due diligence. If your child is sick, go to the best facility that can take care of a pediatric patient crucial information. Dr Sampson Davis emergency medicine physician, we always appreciate, appreciate you on the show. Please come back soon