Communities

Respiratory illnesses on the rise

MORGANTOWN -- Emergency departments (EDs) across WVU Medicine are experiencing a holiday surge in patients with respiratory illnesses, including COVID-19, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and as a result, physicians are encouraging those who can to utilize their primary care providers, telemedicine, and urgent care centers, when appropriate.  

"Most of our EDs are experiencing higher than average visit numbers with many of those patients being sicker and requiring admission. This is leading to delays in some of our departments," Christopher Goode, M.D., chair of WVU Medicine Emergency Medicine, said. "The hardest hit department is our Emergency Department at WVU Medicine Children's Hospital, which is seeing the sickest children requiring admission. Children's Hospital and Emergency Medicine leadership are working to make every treatment space on campus available for care, including an increase in outpatient pediatric acute care clinic availability."

One of the ways patients can help lessen the load at EDs is to go to their local urgent care centers, when appropriate. Life-threatening emergencies and those that pose a risk of disability, such as symptoms of a heart attack or stroke, injuries sustained in a vehicle crash, and lacerations that cause substantial bleeding, should be treated in an emergency department.

Minor, unexpected injuries and illnesses that do not fall into those categories, including ear infections, strep throat, simple abdominal pain, urinary tract infections, minor lacerations, sprains, and simple fractures, can be treated at an urgent care center. The wait times are often shorter, and the cost is lower than going to the emergency department.

Those with non-urgent or emergent medical concerns are encouraged to see their primary care providers, many of whom may offer virtual care appointments.

With telemedicine appointments, adults and children can:

¯ Receive an examination, diagnosis, and treatment from a WVU Medicine provider

¯ Be treated for a variety of minor medical concerns, such as cough, sore throat, flu-like symptoms, rash, allergies, and pink eye

¯ Receive an after-visit summary containing a care plan and any follow-up instructions, including referrals for a specialist visit or diagnostic imaging

¯ Have prescriptions sent to the pharmacy of their choice

The best steps to help prevent contracting respiratory illnesses are to:

¯ Wash your hands often with soap and water. Lather for at least 20 seconds every time. If no soap is available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol.

¯ Avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth.

¯ Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you sneeze or cough and dispose of the tissue in the nearest waste receptacle after use.

¯ Avoid contact with sick individuals.

¯ Utilize social distancing when possible.

¯ Clean and disinfect surfaces that are frequently touched, such as your mobile phone.

¯ Stay home if you are sick, unless seeking medical attention.

Safety during RSV season is important because there is no cure or effective treatment for it. RSV is primarily spread through direct contact. It can survive for several hours on hands and surfaces after wiping noses, coughing, or sneezing. Once exposed, symptoms of RSV can appear within four-to-six days and last up to 14 days, depending on the severity of the infection. Children with any of the following symptoms should receive medical care immediately:

¯ Difficulty breathing or breathing too fast

¯ Flaring of the chest while breathing

¯ Indentation of the skin between ribs, under the rib cage, or above the sternum

¯ Showing blueness in the face or body

¯ Long pauses when breathing

¯ Dehydration 

Some children, like babies who are less than six-months old, premature infants, those with chronic lung or heart disease, patients exposed to secondhand smoke, and those with an immune system deficiency, are more at risk for severe RSV infections than others. Upon diagnosis, focus on symptom relief, like staying hydrated, fever control, and nasal suctioning. Do not use over-the-counter medications to stop a cough.

"We want everyone to know that we're here for them when and if they need us. We just ask that they be patient with us as we work through this surge," Dr. Goode said. "We're grateful to our staff members who are working tirelessly to treat of all those who are seeking us out for care."