Flu, COVID-19 numbers in kids rising, likely to 'get worse before they get better': Winnipeg doctor

If you've noticed an uptick in colds, flu and COVID-19 — among children in particular — you're not alone.

The medical director at Health Sciences Centre Children's Hospital emergency department in Winnipeg says there's an increase in cases of respiratory illnesses in kids showing up in the ER.

"Rhinovirus, COVID-19, respiratory syncytial virus [RSV], influenza — all the respiratory viruses — are really gathering steam," said Dr. Karen Gripp, a pediatric emergency physician and associate professor at the University of Manitoba.

The latest numbers from Shared Health, which co-ordinates health care in the province, suggest influenza, RSV and COVID-19 levels haven't jumped overall in Manitoba as of mid-November. However, that isn't necessarily the case for young people.

A Shared Health spokesperson said anecdotally, physicians at the Children's Hospital emergency department are seeing a jump in COVID-19 in particular, along with "noticeable increases" in influenza and RSV.

Last weekend, 138 patients presented at Children's Hospital with influenza-like symptoms, up from 105 the weekend prior, the spokesperson said. Common symptoms include cough, runny nose, sore throat or difficulty breathing.

At this point last year, Manitoba was in the midst of "the worst November that we've ever seen" for respiratory viruses in kids, Gripp said, due to a simultaneous rise in RSV, flu and COVID-19. 

The Children's Hospital was seeing about 170 children on average each day for parts of last fall, she said.

In recent weeks, about 130 young patients have been presenting at the emergency room each day, with 40 of those patients experiencing flu-like symtpoms, Shared Health said. 

That figure is in line with averages at the Children's Hospital ER in November 2019, right before the COVID-19 pandemic began, said Gripp.

"That was the year we were seeing 200 [child] patients per day by the end of the year," said Gripp.

"What this means for next month and January [is] hard to say, but we're expecting things to get worse before they get better."

Overall trends in Manitoba

Wastewater surveillance data suggests cases of COVID-19 were on the rise in Brandon and Winnipeg as of Nov. 9.

There were 256 cases detected in Manitoba for the week of Nov. 5 to 11, similar to the 240 the week prior, according to the province's data.

There were 59 hospitalizations and three intensive care admissions due to COVID-19 the week of Nov. 5 to 11, compared to 63 and three the week of Oct. 29 to Nov. 4. No deaths due to COVID-19 were reported during that two-week span.

There were 33 cases of influenza A and B reported during the week of Nov. 5-11, more than double the 13 reported the week before.

Overall, influenza and RSV levels in Manitoba remained low during the same time period, with emergency department and urgent care visits due to respiratory illnesses on par with averages in 2017 to 2019, according to Shared Health.

Stemming the spread

One way to minimize the spread of respiratory illnesses is for anyone who's sick to stay home and avoid visiting elderly or vulnerable loved ones most at risk to severe reactions, Dr. Gripp said.

Masking up also helps, she said.

"If you do have to travel or go outside the house and you're unwell, wearing a mask can help protect others from yourself but can also protect you," she said.

Washing hands, not sharing glasses or straws, sneezing and coughing into your shoulder, and keeping vaccinations for COVID-19 and flu updated can all make a difference, said Gripp.

The kids most impacted by those two illnesses tend to be those who are unvaccinated, she said.

Contrary to a common myth, Gripp underscored that you cannot get the flu or COVID-19 from getting vaccinated.

"We're expecting your body to respond and build up antibodies — that's the whole point of vaccination in general," she said. "Different people have different reactions to those, but it cannot give you COVID, it cannot give you influenza."

Another myth is that fevers are dangerous. That isn't always true, said Gripp — it's generally a protective mechanism in the body, despite the fact a fever can make you feel "miserable."

Bringing a fever down may help with comfort, "but having a fever is not a reason to rush to an emergency department, unless there are other concerning signs and symptoms," said Gripp.

There are exceptions, however. Parents of children under three months old should consider taking them to an ER if they have a fever, Gripp said.

Children who experience a fever for more than seven days should also see a medical professional at an urgent care centre, a family doctor's office or, in some cases, at an emergency department.

Patients with respiratory symptoms who are breathing quickly or shallowly, are wheezing or are otherwise struggling to catch their breath should also be checked out, said Gripp.