What is RSV and who’s at risk

“RSV is a virus, one of the most common viruses in the pediatric population. It usually attacks the upper airway and the lungs,” says Kelsey Grimes, DO, outpatient pediatrician with OSF HealthCare. “It leads to a lot of inflammation and excess secretions. Oftentimes we get a runny nose, stuffy nose and an increased work of breathing, also known as respiratory distress. That’s the part that usually leads to us seeing them in the office, or them going to the emergency department and being hospitalized.”

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalization among U.S. infants, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating around 58,000 to 80,000 hospitalizations and 100 to 500 deaths each year in children under five. The virus can lead to severe illnesses like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Prevention tools now available

In the fall of 2023, two major preventive products became available in the U.S.:

• A maternal vaccine administered during pregnancy (given between 32-36 weeks’ gestation)
• A long-acting monoclonal antibody for infants (0-7 months old) and some children (8-19 months old) at higher risk
• While these preventive products do not stop RSV infection entirely, their goal is to drastically reduce the severity of symptoms.

These tools mark a major shift in RSV prevention, including the monoclonal antibody product known as Beyfortus (also referred to as nirsevimab). The American Academy of Pediatrics reports that nirsevimab is expected to reduce the risk of severe RSV disease by about 80%.

What the data show: Fewer hospitalizations

“There’s still RSV. But we have seen a drastic decrease in hospitalizations and ICU stays, which is usually when kids get the increased work of breathing and need oxygen and support. When they're really little, it's hard for them to suck, swallow and breathe because of all the mucus and inflammation,” Dr. Grimes adds. “So sometimes even if they aren't being admitted for oxygen, it's because they're dehydrated.”

Recent surveillance data underscore how significant that decrease is. An analysis of the 2024-25 RSV season – the first with widespread availability of both maternal vaccination and the infant antibody – found hospitalization rates among infants 0-7 months old fell by approximately 28% to 43% compared to 2018-20 (pre-pandemic) seasons.

For the youngest infants (0-2 months), the declines were even sharper, around 45% to 52%.

These data signal that many severe RSV cases in infants may now be preventable, a major public-health milestone.

Side effects and practical details

“Most common side effects are local redness, swelling and pain to the area. We aren’t seeing any systemic signs with this injection,” says Dr. Grimes. “Some other vaccines have an increased risk of fevers, but with this vaccine, we’re just seeing, potentially, some localized effect from where the needle went into the thigh.”

Additional supportive measures for babies with RSV symptoms include suctioning the nose, using humidifiers or steam from hot showers, nasal saline spray and watching for secondary bacterial infections.

General prevention: stay home when sick, cough into your elbow, wash and sanitize hands and avoid contact with others when appropriate.

Why this matters

Because infants are especially vulnerable, and because RSV has long been the top reason for hospitalization among U.S. babies, these preventive tools arrive at a critical moment. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that eligible infants receive protection as early in the RSV season as possible, ideally within the first week of life if born during RSV season.

Key takeaways for parents

• If you’re pregnant, especially in your third trimester, ask your provider about the maternal RSV vaccine.
• After your baby is born, if they’re under 8 months or have certain health conditions, ask about monoclonal antibody protection.
• Even with these tools, everyday precautions still help: hand hygiene, limiting exposure to sick contacts and monitoring for signs of worsening breathing or dehydration.
• Early treatment and care matter: If your baby is working harder to breathe, has decreased feeding, or seems dehydrated, seek medical attention promptly.

OSF OnCall, the digital arm of OSF HealthCare, offers virtual urgent care, a great option for people to be seen without ever stepping foot into an office. Virtual visits can allow your child to be seen and receive a treatment plan in less than half an hour. Additionally, OSF OnCall offers at-home monitoring for babies and toddlers with respiratory illnesses.

Difficulty breathing, or respiratory distress, is a medical emergency. If this happens with your child, take them to the nearest emergency department immediately.

Video Interview Clips

Pneumonia.

It’s a hard enough word to spell, let alone remember how to prevent and treat it. With respiratory illness season here, it’s time for a reminder about how to avoid this possibly deadly condition.

The basics

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who treats people at OSF HealthCare, says pneumonia is a lung infection caused by a virus or bacteria.

“The most common bacteria that causes it is strep pneumonia [in medical terms, streptococcus pneumoniae or pneumococcus]. The viruses that cause it are things like RSV [respiratory syncytial virus], flu [influenza] and COVID-19 [coronavirus],” Dr. Burke says.

In other words, you could get the flu, and it could progress to pneumonia. The phrase double pneumonia means it’s impacting both lungs. Dr. Burke says people with pneumonia could experience coughing, fever, chills and weakness.

“It can cause a consolidation in the lungs. That interferes with air movement,” Dr. Burke says. “You can also get fluid buildup and scarring in the lungs.” Consolidation refers to inflamed cells that form a mass.

Diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Burke says when someone comes to the emergency department with pneumonia symptoms, a health care provider could do a chest X-ray or CAT scan to confirm the diagnosis.

“If we find it’s from a viral infection, people have to ride it out. There’s no treatment for [the ailment itself]. But we can treat the symptoms. We can give Tylenol for fever or an inhaler for shortness of breath or wheezing,” Dr. Burke explains. “If it’s from a bacterial infection, we give antibiotic medication.”

The person could take antibiotics by mouth for one to two weeks. Or, if they are having trouble breathing, the medicine would be given through intravenous (IV) therapy. Either way, the goal is to stop the bacteria in the lungs from growing.

Another tactic is a bronchoscope, where a pulmonologist inserts a tube down your throat to break up mucus in your airways.

But Dr. Burke cautions: don’t let the guidance of some “ride it out” fool you. Pneumonia is a common cause of hospitalization and death worldwide.

“One complication is sepsis, when the infection spreads to the blood. That can cause organ failure,” Dr. Burke warns. “Pneumonia can also cause respiratory failure [when the lungs aren’t working properly]. Those people might require additional oxygen. Or if it serious enough, they might require intubation [a breathing tube down the throat] or be placed on life support.”



Is it contagious?

Yes, pneumonia can spread from person to person, Dr. Burke says. It’s often transmitted through respiratory droplets (coughing or sneezing on someone), but it can spread on surfaces as well. A child could touch a dirty doorknob then put their hands in their mouth, for example.

That’s why everyday hygiene is important. Wash your hands with soap and warm water thoroughly and often. Cough or sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. Stay home and away from others if you’re sick. These are especially important for people at higher risk for pneumonia: people with a history of strokes or seizures, people suffering from substance abuse, people with a compromised immune system (those with HIV or a transplanted organ, for example), smokers and people with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also outlines the guidelines for the pneumococcal vaccine. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions about the shot.

“The vaccine comes from evidence-based medicine. Experts have done studies. It’s shown to be very effective in decreasing the severity of pneumonia,” Dr. Burke explains. “I would recommend people take the vaccine.”

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You’ve likely heard of bronchitis, an illness that impacts the larger lung airways and leaves you feeling short of breath and just generally yucky.

This fall and winter, here’s another respiratory illness with “bronch” in the name to be aware of, especially if you have young kids: bronchiolitis. It’s an ailment that Awad Alyami, MD, an OSF HealthCare pediatrician, sees often this time of year.

The basics

Dr. Alyami says bronchiolitis is an infection of the bronchioles, or the small airways that branch out in the lungs.

“When they become infected, there is a lot of mucus. It makes it harder to breathe,” Dr. Alyami explains.

Other symptoms include fever, runny nose, cough and dehydration. Bronchiolitis is “easily spread,” Dr. Alyami says, through respiratory droplets, like when you cough. The illness is most common in children, especially kids under two. Other high-risk groups include babies born prematurely, with chronic lung disease, with heart disease present at birth and with immune system deficiencies.

“There are also environmental risk factors, like babies who are exposed to smoke and babies who attend day care,” Dr. Alyami adds. Attending day care, he explains, will expose a child to illnesses, no matter how clean the place is.

Cause, diagnosis and treatment

Dr. Alyami says other viruses like influenza and COVID-19 can cause bronchiolitis, but respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is the most common cause.

“You need to see a doctor if your baby has trouble breathing at any time,” Dr. Alyami advises. “Or if your baby is younger than three months and they have a fever. Or if they are older than three months and they have a fever for more than three days. Or if the child has signs of dehydration, like if they are making fewer wet diapers than normal.”

Unlike the flu and COVID-19, there is no test for bronchiolitis. But, a health care provider may swab your nose anyway to see if you have another virus. Other tests like a chest x-ray may be done. And the provider will also examine you and ask about your health history to come up with a diagnosis.

Treatment involves making you feel comfortable until symptoms resolve.

“One of the most important things is nose suction as needed,” Dr. Alyami says. “When we suction the nose and keep it clean, it’s easier to breathe.”

A bulb suction is the most common device to do this. When you’re really stuffed up, you can use nasal spray or drops to make the secretion thinner. Then, use the suction. You can also use a humidifier if your home’s air is dry. Dr. Alyami says these devices and medicines are widely available in retail stores.

You can treat the fever with over-the-counter medication. Drink fluids to stay hydrated.

“Typically, day three to day five are the peak of symptoms,” Dr. Alyami says. “After five days, they start to improve. Symptoms can last seven to 14 days. And typically, the cough lingers for a little longer.”

In serious cases, your child may have low oxygen and need to be admitted to the hospital. There, doctors will use an oxygen tube inserted into the nostrils to help breathing. In rare cases, a doctor will put a breathing tube down the child’s throat.

Prevention

Want your child to avoid all this? Preach healthy habits, especially in fall and winter when respiratory illnesses peak. Wash your hands thoroughly. Cough and sneeze into your elbow or a tissue. If you’re sick, stay away from others.

Dr. Alyami adds that since RSV is the main cause of bronchiolitis, you should look into the RSV vaccine. This cold weather season, the vaccine is available for certain groups, like older adults, infants and pregnant women. Talk to your primary care provider if you have questions.

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“It’s important for parents and caregivers to know the signs of labored breathing, also known as respiratory distress,” says Kelsey Grimes, DO, outpatient pediatrician at OSF HealthCare. “This understanding can help them know when it's time for their children to receive immediate medical attention.”

When to seek help

OSF HealthCare has multiple options to use if your child is in respiratory distress.

“During work-time hours, you can call your outpatient pediatrician's office, or primary care provider's office, and try to get a same-day appointment,” Dr. Grimes says. “In that, OSF also has a pediatric nurse triage line where a nurse can provide guidance or recommendations based on the symptoms you tell them. In the evenings, we have the pediatric after hours clinic (2806 Knoxville Ave. Peoria, Illinois), which is a good option.”

Additionally, OSF has multiple OSF OnCall Urgent Care and OSF PromptCare locations. But oftentimes if you're concerned about breathing for your child, the OSF HealthCare Children's Hospital of Illinois pediatric emergency department or calling 9-1-1 is the right first step.”

Why labored breathing happens

“If your child has labored breathing, oftentimes in the pediatric population, the most common cause is a viral infection. With viral infections you get a lot of inflammation, mucus, snot, phlegm – all of that,” Dr. Grimes says. “Kids' airways are smaller. So, inflammation, even on the mild side, makes those airways even smaller. Then when they're plugged up with mucus, or phlegm, they are going to really struggle to breathe.”

Children with significant breathing difficulty may need oxygen support to help them recover. This can be done using high-flow oxygen therapy (HFOT), which delivers air and oxygen down into their respiratory tract. In these cases, hospitalization is required.

At home, nasal saline and suction may be recommended, as well as controlling fevers with Tylenol or Motrin.

Rhinovirus, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) and influenza, among other virus strains, are common culprits that can cause labored breathing. When treated properly, symptoms should begin to improve after three to four days. However, if symptoms worsen, it could indicate an underlying bacterial infection. This may require antibiotics or even hospitalization, depending on the child’s age and severity of illness.

Protecting kids from germs

“Regular hand hygiene and making sure when we touch surfaces (doorknobs, countertops, etc.) that we're not rubbing our eyes or mouth after,” Dr. Grimes says. “Don't share drinks or bites of food. Do anything you can do to try and prevent germ exposure. It’s hard, because a lot of these kids are in day care, preschool and kindergarten. So, there are no boundaries, and the kids are up close and personal there. You try your best for good hygiene, but in the end, they are probably going to be exposed.”

Signs of respiratory distress

Dr. Grimes says the most important thing to watch out for is how fast your child is breathing. Respiratory distress can cause a child to breathe much faster, or sometimes slower, than normal.

Retraction breathing, or the visible “sucking in” of the skin between or below the ribs, is another red flag.

“This happens because the muscle underlying the skin is really contracting, working hard to get that air in and back out,” Dr. Grimes explains.

Retraction breathing can happen under the rib cage (subcostal), between the ribs (intercostal), above the collarbones (supraclavicular) or at the base of the neck (tracheal tugging). Flaring nostrils are also a warning sign.

Other concerning symptoms include:

• Drooling in children who are past the teething stage
• Blue discoloration around the mouth
• Head bobbing with each breath (an emergency sign)
• Sitting forward and extending the neck in a “sniffing position” to ease breathing
• Wheezing when breathing out
• Grunting when exhaling
• Lethargic behavior (confused, drowsy)

Care and comfort at home

For viral infections, medical teams focus on supportive care, especially fever control.

For babies 2 months old or younger, any high or low temperature warrants an emergency department visit. Do not give Tylenol at this age.

Once babies are over 2 months old, Tylenol may be given in the appropriate dose based on weight, always under guidance from your pediatrician. Once over 6 months of age, babies can receive Motrin, as their kidneys are more developed. Both medications can be given every six hours as needed.

“When kids are having fevers, signs of labored breathing increase as well,” Dr. Grimes notes.

Hydration is also extremely important. “Really make sure to push fluids when your kids are sick. Hydration is key in recovery.”

Parents can help clear their child’s airway by using nasal saline followed by gentle suction. Humidifiers can help loosen mucus, and standing in a steamy bathroom with the shower running hot can offer short-term relief.

The bottom line

Labored breathing can be a sign of serious illness, and early action is the best protection. Parents and caregivers who recognize the warning signs and know when to call their pediatrician or seek emergency care, can help ensure their child receives timely, life-saving support.

Making sure your child receives the recommended childhood vaccines is another way to ensure your child is protected against respiratory illness.

Video Interview Clips

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) expects the upcoming fall and winter respiratory disease season in the United States will likely have a similar number of combined peak hospitalizations due to COVID-19, influenza, and RSV compared to last season.

As the respiratory virus season arrives, OSF OnCall is also reminding parents that it offers an at-home monitoring and support program for babies and toddlers 5 and under who have an infection from a respiratory virus. Those include: the flu, rhinovirus, croup, pneumonia, and others including RSV, the number one reason for hospitalization of children under age 1 in the United States. It can lead to other infections including bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs), especially in babies.

The digital health arm of OSF HealthCare will provide support for patients with a pediatric respiratory virus and caregivers in the comfort of their own homes. Enrollment offers a connection to OSF OnCall care teams 24/7 and monitoring tools that will aid in proactive response to worsening respiratory virus symptoms, keeping infants and toddlers out of the hospital.

Mary Stapel, MD, lead physician for Community Care for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center says RSV and other respiratory infections can often be managed at home.

“For the more common cold type symptoms, we can recommend the conservative treatments at home nasal saline with some suctioning, a cool mist humidifier you know, just kind of frequent, small feedings to optimize keeping that child hydrated.”

Clinical Digital Care Supervisor Rose Smith, RN, says OSF OnCall was able to implement its 24/7 digitally enabled, at-home support program for RSV so quickly two years ago because of its experience with similar monitoring to help patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. Smith says parents and caregivers have loved it.

How it works

“They love having support anytime in the day, however they want to do it – text message, phone call, anything. They can send us pictures. We've really kind of taken that to tailor what parents need to feel comfortable taking their children home, you know, from a clinic; from the hospital during the scary time.”

An OSF OnCall software application provides education and notifications to report relevant signs/symptoms over 10 days. Smith says upon enrollment, parents or guardians receive a care kit for at-home use from their provider following a visit or a digital community health worker can deliver one.

“So we have a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels and their heart rate and then we have a thermometer, and we also provide saline spray, and then a bulb syringe. A lot of parents, when their babies are born, they use them in the hospital, but they might not know that they can use them to help relieve any secretions especially before feeding their children.”

Smith adds, it’s also important to clear the nose before a nap or bedtime. Parents also receive step-by-step written instructions as well as a video demonstration for how to use what’s provided in the kit.

The OSF OnCall respiratory illness RPM program is for anyone in Illinois or Michigan. Patients must have a positive test or diagnosis of a respiratory infection to qualify. Referrals can be made by providers in a hospital emergency department, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, OSF PromptCare, medical offices, or following hospital discharge.

Smith says parents who have a child in the program can request a video visit at any time. The OSF OnCall nurse will also recommend a video visit if needed.

“If they think their child looks off, we just have another set of eyes. The providers will look at it (to see if they need a higher level of care). Sometimes our nurses can tell the parents you know, ‘We think they need to be seen. Can we do a video visit just before you take your child out, especially now that it's colder out?’ You know, we don't want them if they're having trouble breathing to go outside, but we really just focus on what works best to still get them the care that they need.”

Last season, the remote monitoring program for pediatric respiratory viruses enrolled a total of 717 babies and toddlers from September through April.

At OSF HealthCare and across the country, there is concern a return to school and more activities moving indoors this fall could accelerate the transmission of RSV, the flu, COVID-19, and other viral illnesses. Dr. Stapel advises making sure you and everyone around you practices good hand hygiene, coughs into the inside of their elbow, and stays home from parties and other obligations if you are sick.

If you suspect your child has symptoms of RSV, the flu, or some other respiratory virus that don’t appear life-threatening, you can reach out to your pediatrician, primary care provider or OSF OnCall Urgent Care which also has a virtual visit option anytime.

Video clips with Dr. Mary Stapel and Rose Smith, RN

B-roll for RPM for pediatric viruses

We’re approaching the late summer-early fall period when respiratory illnesses begin their annual upswing. The latest news from federal health officials concerns a new variant of COVID-19, NB.1.8.1. Some people impacted have reported severe sore throats, almost like there’s a razor blade in there.

Fred Burke, MD, an emergency medicine physician who sees patients at OSF HealthCare, says illnesses like COVID, RSV and the flu will always be around. It’s just a matter of taking precautions to avoid serious illness. So, what’s the level of concern with this new COVID variant as we begin to make fall plans?

The razor’s edge

Any sore throat is an annoyance. But Dr. Burke says you should monitor severe cases closely.

“You’re less likely to want to eat or drink, which can lead to further dehydration,” he says.

You can manage sore throats at home with Tylenol or ibuprofen, chloraseptic spray, warm tea and throat lozenges. Dr. Burke says if you have trouble keeping food or fluids down, feel lightheaded or dizzy or have trouble breathing, see a health care provider right away.

COVID precautions

Dr. Burke says this new COVID variant isn’t linked to as much severe illness as other variants. But, he says it’s more easily spread.

“The average healthy person might get through it with some [figurative] bumps and bruises and little to no symptoms. For people with comorbidities or who are immunocompromised, the virus might be a little bit more detrimental,” Dr. Burke says.

Getting vaccinated and practicing good hygiene are two big tools to avoid serious illness, he adds. Wash your hands and high touch surfaces, like doorknobs, often, don’t cough or sneeze into the open air and stay home and away from others when you don’t feel well. If you’re in a crowd, especially if you have a comorbidity like diabetes, Dr. Burke says you should consider wearing a mask.

“If you’re going to have a gathering, whether at home or somewhere else, you can also recommend people take a home test to make sure they don’t have COVID prior to going,” Dr. Burke suggests. Those at-home tests can usually be found over the counter at a pharmacy.

For vaccines, recent preliminary guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration recommends the shot this fall for people 65 and up. For others, the shot is recommended for people who have a compromised immune system or a comorbid condition like obesity, heart disease, high blood pressure, lung disease or depression. The website for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, meanwhile, has a broader recommendation. When in doubt, Dr. Burke says to talk to your primary care provider.

Learn more

Explore other resources to keep yourself safe from COVID on the OSF HealthCare website, blog and newsroom.

Interview clips

Humans are well-equipped to bounce back from most cases of respiratory illnesses like COVID-19, RSV and the flu. But in some cases, the impact on your lungs can be long-lasting, leading to chronic symptoms like difficulty breathing, fatigue or brain fog. You can also be at a higher risk for a blood clot or infection in your lungs.

“There’s damage to the lungs in the form of cellular damage, as well as immune system dysregulation and prolonged inflammation,” says Yiran Gong, MD, a pulmonologist at OSF HealthCare. “These can be the drivers of post-COVID syndrome, or extensive and persistent symptoms after the resolution of the viral illness.”

Dr. Gong admits the outlook can be daunting. But health care providers have several ways to attack the problem.

Pulmonary rehabilitation involves breathing exercises to “retrain your body on how to breathe,” Dr. Gong says. For people with post COVID-asthma, a provider may prescribe an inhaler to reduce inflammation in the lungs’ small airways.

“There are medications to slow the progression of pulmonary fibrosis [scarring]. However, these medications have not really been researched for COVID specifically just because of how short of a time COVID has been around,” Dr. Gong says. “People who do have extensive lung scarring will require referral to a transplant center.”

Staying on top of your health, such as being up to date on vaccines and practicing good hygiene (like washing your hands thoroughly and often), is a good way to avoid the illnesses that cause lung issues. But if you are dealing with chronic lung symptoms, Dr. Gong says you shouldn’t lose hope.

“See a physician. Make sure there’s not an underlying cause that hasn’t been treated,” he says. “Then you’ll work on optimizing lung function. Take it one step at a time.”

Read more about how to keep your lungs in top shape on the OSF HealthCare website.

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OSF On Call, the digital health arm of Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare has enrolled nearly 80 more babies and toddlers in a program to monitor at home, those with respiratory illness. The program provides support for patients with a pediatric respiratory virus. Enrollment offers a connection to OSF OnCall care teams 24/7 and monitoring tools that will aid in proactive response to worsening respiratory virus symptoms, keeping infants and toddlers out of the hospital.

September through January of this year, the program enrolled 966 children compared to 890 a year ago. This comes as the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH) announced that after a one-week dip, the state’s overall respiratory illness level has ticked up again from Moderate to High, driven by a notable increase in emergency department (ED) visits and hospital admissions for flu.

The program requires a referral from a medical provider and is for babies and toddlers 5 and under with a confirmed diagnosis. Referrals can be made by providers in a hospital emergency department, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, OSF PromptCare, medical offices, or following hospital discharge.

Mary Stapel, MD, lead physician for Community Care for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center says RSV and other respiratory infections can often be managed at home.

“For the more common cold type symptoms, we can recommend the conservative treatments at home nasal saline with some suctioning, a cool mist humidifier you know, just kind of frequent, small feedings to optimize keeping that child hydrated.”

Clinical Digital Care Supervisor Rose Smith, RN, says OSF OnCall was able to implement its 24/7 digitally enabled, at-home support program for RSV so quickly two years ago because of its experience with similar monitoring to help patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. Smith says parents and caregivers have loved it.

“They love having support anytime in the day, however they want to do it – text message, phone call, anything. They can send us pictures. We've really kind of taken that to tailor what parents need to feel comfortable taking their children home, you know, from a clinic; from the hospital during the scary time.”

An OSF OnCall software application provides education and notifications to report relevant signs/symptoms over 10 days. Smith says upon enrollment, parents or guardians receive a care kit for at-home use from their provider following a visit or a digital community health worker can deliver one.

“So we have a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels and their heart rate and then we have a thermometer, and we also provide saline spray, and then a bulb syringe. A lot of parents, when their babies are born, they use them in the hospital, but they might not know that they can use them to help relieve any secretions especially before feeding their children.”

Smith adds, it’s also important to clear the nose before a nap or bedtime. Parents also receive step-by-step written instructions as well as a video demonstration for how to use what’s provided in the kit.

Smith says parents who have a child in the program can request a video visit at any time. The OSF OnCall nurse will also recommend a video visit if needed.

“If they think their child looks off, we just have another set of eyes. The providers will look at it (to see if they need a higher level of care). Sometimes our nurses can tell the parents you know, ‘We think they need to be seen. Can we do a video visit just before you take your child out, especially now that it's colder out?’ You know, we don't want them if they're having trouble breathing to go outside, but we really just focus on what works best to still get them the care that they need.”

Dr. Stapel advises making sure you and everyone around you practices good hand hygiene, coughs into the inside of their elbow, and stays home from parties and other obligations if you are sick.

If you suspect your child has symptoms of RSV, the flu, or some other respiratory virus that don’t appear life-threatening, you can reach out to your pediatrician, primary care provider or OSF OnCall Urgent Care which also has a virtual visit option anytime.

Dr. Mary Stapel

Rose Smith

B-roll for OSF OnCall at-home pediatric respiratory monitoring

When kids are in school and loved ones are gathering for the holidays, viruses tend to make the rounds. 

One common virus in school-age children is RSV.

What is RSV?

“RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus, is a respiratory illness that can impact anyone of any age around the world,” says Kinnera Are, MD, a pediatrician with OSF HealthCare. “In our population, the most at-risk would be infants and children under 2 years of age.”

How is RSV spread?

“It’s spread by nasal secretions, coughing, and sneezing respiratory droplets. It does tend to increase around the holiday season,” Dr. Are says,” because we’re around other people and we’re in gatherings with family and friends.”

How do we protect ourselves from RSV?

“Stay home if you’re not feeling well and you’re spreading respiratory droplets. Make sure to wash your hands regularly and frequently,” Dr. Are adds. “School-age kids tend to be the most hard-hit of all these kids, only because they’re around other children. The biggest way we can protect those kids in the winter is teaching good hand hygiene, making sure we’re teaching them to wash their hands really well.”

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved two RSV vaccines for adults 60 years and older. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends adults in this age range should speak with their medical provider about if the vaccine is right for them.

Additionally, the FDA also approved two options for infants and toddlers. The CDC has signed off on a monoclonal antibody for all infants up to 8 months old, born during their first RSV season. If your child is at high risk for severe disease or severely immunocompromised, they can receive the antibody between 8 and 19 months.

Lastly, an RSV vaccine for pregnant women has been approved. Check with your medical provider about availability. The hope would be for the vaccine to provide pregnant women with antibodies they could pass to the fetus and protect newborn babies from birth to 6 months from severe RSV.

How can kids build immunity against viruses?

Two main ways: Healthy sleeping and healthy eating.

RSV is a virus and tends to just need to run its course. Dr. Are says while there is no prescription medicine to treat RSV, there are multiple over-the-counter solutions that can minimize the symptoms.

“We recommend Tylenol or ibuprofen for fevers and fussiness. Kids can have honey for those with a cough, as long as they’re over 1 year of age. Also make sure to have kids blow their noses and suction out the liquid from their noses if they have congestion or a runny nose,” Dr. Are adds.

Who else is at higher risk of RSV?

“The elderly and pregnant women are at higher risk for having more severe RSV infections,” Dr. Are says. “In children, the other populations that would be more at risk is anyone born premature, babies born during this RSV winter season, and anyone that has breathing problems or heart problems.”

Dr. Are says RSV can last anywhere from a couple days to a few weeks.

OSF OnCall offers a remote patient monitoring program for infants and toddlers with RSV and other respiratory viruses. The no-cost service connects those at home with medical specialists virtually, providing education and digital prompts to discuss signs/symptoms over a 10-day period.

The OSF OnCall RSV program is available to anyone in Illinois or Michigan. Patients must have a positive RSV test or diagnosis to qualify. To learn more about the program, click here.

Video Interview Clips

Fall and winter could be renamed “coughing season” with seasonal illnesses in the air. But there’s more to coughing than the brief but annoying impact on your day.

Some coughing is normal. But you should see a health care provider quickly when you cough up things you shouldn’t.

The basics: Why do you cough?

Aminat Ogun, MD, a family medicine physician at OSF HealthCare, says coughing is one way your body protects your lungs and airways from irritants. You expel the bad stuff out of our system, she says.

Some everyday things that can make you cough: breathing in smoke, allergies and mucus dripping down to your throat and irritating it. Or, you may just wake up in the morning and cough a few times to lighten your chest. These shouldn’t alarm you, Dr. Ogun says.

“We have cough receptors in our airways and lungs,” Dr. Ogun explains. “If we have mucus or an irritant, there’s a signal sent to our brain. The brain activates those receptors to have the cough action happen. So that’s why you clear your throat or cough in the morning. You’re trying to clear out your airways.”

If your cough is associated with an illness (like a cold, flu, RSV, COVID, bronchitis or pertussis, also called whooping cough) or a chronic condition (like asthma or COPD), you should be seeing a provider as often as needed to learn how to manage things.

Coughing up things you shouldn’t

Watch for signs that your cough may be linked to a more serious problem, Dr. Ogun says.

• Mucus: Our airways produce mucus to trap irritants, Dr. Ogun says. So it’s not out of the ordinary to cough up mucus from time to time. But if the mucus is thick or a different color (green or yellow), it could be a sign of pneumonia or bronchitis.
  
  “When it’s persistent [cough with mucus] and it’s affecting your breathing, you definitely want to be seen [by a provider,]” Dr. Ogun says.
   
• Vomit: Dr. Ogun says sometimes, you just cough hard enough to bring up some vomit. If it’s a “one-off,” as she calls it, you should still see a provider, but it may not be cause for great concern. But persistent vomiting while coughing could be a sign of whooping cough, acid reflux or aspiration (when food or drink gets into the lungs).
   
• Blood: Coughing blood brings a high level of concern, Dr. Ogun says.
  
  “Sometimes you have the common cold, you’re coughing for a long period and you irritated your airways. Maybe you nick the capillary artery [leading to coughing blood.] That’s fine,” Dr. Ogun says. “But more serious conditions would be a blood clot in the lung or tuberculosis.”
  
  Heart failure, lung cancer or infections are also associated with coughing up blood.
   

Diagnosis and treatment

When you see a provider for an abnormal cough, they’ll ask about your health history, specifically about your cough. How long have you been coughing? Did something trigger it? What are you coughing up? Do you have other symptoms, like a fever?

“Then the provider could do a physical examination. They look at the back of your throat. They listen to your lungs to see if they hear anything concerning. Depending on what they find, they could order a chest X-ray or a CT scan to see what’s going on inside your chest,” Dr. Ogun says.

Treatment will depend on what the provider finds. For example, acid reflux can be tamped down by an antacid or a proton pump inhibitor (PPI). For an infection like pneumonia, you’ll get an antibiotic. If it is just an irritating tickle in your throat, you may get a steroid like Flonase.

What you can do

Some advice from Dr. Ogun to ensure coughs don’t derail your health:

• Parents should keep a close eye on kids and their coughing.
   
• No matter the age, don’t shake off one instance of a bad cough and assume things will go back to normal. See a provider right away.
   
• While vaccines don’t prevent coughing, Dr. Ogun says they are critically important to stomp out the illnesses associated with coughing. Talk to your health care provider about when you’re due for flu, COVID, RSV, pneumonia and Tdap (tetanus, diphtheria and pertussis) vaccines.
  
  “Pertussis is dangerous in immunocompromised people and kids,” Dr. Ogun warns. “RSV is highly contagious, as well. It’s life-threating in infants and older adults.
  
  “What vaccines do is help prevent getting to the very severe stage [of an illness,]” she adds. “You’re trying to prevent ending up in the hospital. You’re also reducing the risk of infection. And you’re protecting people around you who may be sicker than you.”
   
• Daily hygiene habits also go a long way. Sneeze or cough into your elbow or a tissue. Wash your hands often. Stay home and away from others when sick. Again, these don’t prevent coughs. But they can help prevent the spread of illness that brings those rough coughing fits.

Interview clips

Related stories

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Beat that cold: Tips for at home
Protecting infants this RSV season
Busting hygiene myths
Back to school illnesses, immunizations
Hoarse whisperers: Unmasking the vocal sabotage of silent reflux
Solving sore throats
Living with the 6-8 week cough
Allergic rhinitis is a year round concern

The newest tool for protecting our littlest population is now available in the United States. 

The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) vaccine was initially approved in summer 2023 for adults 60 and older, quickly followed by a recommendation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for pregnant women. The goal of vaccinating pregnant women would be to pass on RSV antibodies from mom to baby.

"(Pregnant women should get the vaccine) somewhere between 32-36 weeks of pregnancy. As long as they receive the vaccine and give birth two weeks after or more after getting the vaccine, the baby should be having good protection for their first year of life,” says Kinnera Are, DO, a pediatrician with OSF HealthCare.

When is RSV season?

Dr. Are says RSV season normally starts in October, goes through the winter, and wraps up in March or April.

"We are expecting to see it this year, but hopefully not as bad as it has been the last couple of years,” Dr. Are adds.

What babies are eligible?

Infants eight months and younger are eligible for the RSV vaccine, along with older infants who have serious medical conditions like chronic lung disease and heart conditions.

"Some infants at higher risk are eligible to get the vaccine for their second RSV season. So, the second year October through March. Some things that would put them at higher risk if infants have chronic lung disease and prematurity and needed oxygen or medications within the last six months. Otherwise, we can offer it during that second season to infants from American Indian heritage or Alaskan Native heritage,” Dr. Area says. “Severely immunocompromised infants are eligible for that second season, and infants with cystic fibrosis who have issues with their lungs. Or if they're very small and are having issues with growth, they may also be eligible." 

How to protect infants and others from RSV

Ways to protect infants from RSV are on par with other respiratory illnesses.

-          Stay away from sick individuals

-          Keep kids home if sick (fever, runny nose)

-          Prioritize good sleep

-          Focus on good eating habits, hydration

-          Wash your hands

"RSV will show symptoms like most other respiratory illnesses. So, you may start off with congestion and runny nose, maybe a fever or a cough," Dr. Are says. “RSV, especially in the infant age group, tends to affect the lungs a little bit more than older kids. So, you may see more of that cough or congestion that's not coming out.”

Days 3-5 are usually the worst

"Any respiratory illness, but especially RSV, is worse between days three and five. Based on where the infant is when they come in, we'll guide them to see if they're getting better or do we expect it to get worse before it gets better,” Dr. Are says.

When it’s time to go to the emergency department

“Two things that would make me tell someone they need to go to the emergency room; One, if the infant is having respiratory distress like breathing really fast, having trouble breathing or having a lot of wheezing that is not getting better and it's very persistent," Dr. Are says. “You can give us a call (at the pediatrics office) but we'll probably recommend you go to the emergency room. The other thing is dehydration. Severe hydration can be shown in no wet diapers for eight hours and no urine output for eight hours. That's a sign they probably need some IV fluids and need to go to the emergency room for care.”

If a pregnant mother didn’t get the RSV vaccine, your child’s pediatrician will ask if they want the baby to get the vaccine in the first few visits.

Normally, symptoms can be managed at home. Antibiotics aren’t prescribed, since RSV is a virus, but sometimes the virus can cause a secondary bacterial infection like pneumonia, which could call for antibiotics. You can use a nasal suction tool to keep the baby’s nose and airways clean, which is especially important when they’re eating or sleeping.

Video Interview Clips

The updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available at pharmacies around the country in the coming weeks.

The mRNA vaccine is not a booster, says Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. He says it’s recommended for a much broader portion of the population.

"The vaccine is now recommended for everybody 6 months and older as a one-time, once-a-year vaccine," Dr. Kasper says. “The vaccine has been updated. For people who are at really high risk, those 65 and older or with respiratory conditions, they may get a second shot. This would be in a six-month interval in the springtime.” 

Does the vaccine prevent me from getting COVID-19?

The quick answer? No, much like you find with the annual influenza vaccine.

"The vaccine seeks to protect severe outcomes associated with COVID-19. It doesn't protect you from getting COVID, it tries to decrease the severity of how sick you would get," Dr. Kasper says. 

While there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases recently, Dr. Kasper says there has not been an increase in COVID hospitalizations. He attributes this to robust natural immunity in the population and adding this COVID-19 vaccine is just another way to protect yourself from severe illness.

FDA’s “What to Know” sheet

The 2024-2025 formula has been updated to protect against the Omicron variant KP.2.

• Unvaccinated individuals 6 months through 4 years of age are eligible to receive three doses of the updated, authorized Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 6 months through 4 years of age who have previously been vaccinated against COVID-19 are eligible to receive one or two doses of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines (timing and number of doses to administer depends on the previous COVID-19 vaccine received).
• Individuals 5 years through 11 years of age regardless of previous vaccination are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, authorized Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccines; if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months after the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Individuals 12 years of age and older are eligible to receive a single dose of the updated, approved Comirnaty (manufactured by Pfizer BioNTech) or the updated, approved Spikevax (manufactured by Moderna); if previously vaccinated, the dose is administered at least two months since the last dose of any COVID-19 vaccine.
• Additional doses are authorized for certain immunocompromised individuals ages 6 months through 11 years of age as described in the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine and Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine fact sheets.

Commercial retailers are the way to go

As the vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna become available, the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) will publish a pharmacy lookup website at https://www.vaccines.gov/en/vaccines.gov to help people find the nearest vaccine locations.

Dr. Kasper says the best bet at getting a vaccine appointment for COVID-19 or influenza, is through pharmacies at local commercial retailers like Target, Walgreens, CVS or Walmart.

Free COVID-19 home tests are coming back

“The U.S. government will make the at-home COVID testing available for free again this year. You can request up to four home tests that will be delivered to your address for free,” Dr. Kasper says. That gives people another option for testing if they think they're developing signs of COVID even after receiving a vaccine, which can be another way to avoid wait lines at urgent cares, ERs or primary care clinics, and to keep themselves isolated until symptoms have resolved.”

The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that COVIDTests.gov will be the website to order from once the website is active.

Status of the Novavax vaccine

A third manufacturer, Novavax, makes a protein-based vaccine similar to influenza vaccines. While it hasn’t been approved by the FDA, Dr. Kasper suspects it will be soon.

"It likely will be approved, and Novavax has been a prior manufacturer of COVID-19 vaccines. That is a third option that will be coming that isn't mRNA based for people to consider if they had an adverse reaction with Pfizer or Moderna in the past,” Dr. Kasper says.

Can I get the COVID-19 and flu vaccine at the same time?

"There's no issue with timing on getting the COVID and influenza vaccines. The RSV vaccine is recommended to be given separate," Dr. Kasper says. “Most of that has to do with the fact they weren't studied together, there's not an adverse issue with it. For the population, COVID and influenza are recommended across almost all age groups. RSV is for our older population, so we recommend spacing that out by a week or two.”

For all vaccine questions, Dr. Kasper recommends speaking with your primary care team to go over options.

Video Interview Clips

A return to school comes with a return to activities.

But no matter if it’s fall sports, extracurricular activities, or just hanging out with friends, there comes the increase spread of viruses, according to Doug Kasper, MD, an infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare.

“Not only are children, but the family unit as a whole is starting to do much more. They’re going to be exposed to each other much more than they have been over the next few months,” Dr. Kasper says.

The three main viruses remain the same as the past few years: Influenza (flu), COVID-19 and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). But others will arise as well, including adenovirus, rhinovirus/enterovirus (common cold) and more.

When viruses tend to peak

“Influenza in Central Illinois starts to appear around November, and peaks in January,” Dr. Kasper says. “RSV, particularly in young children, starts to show up in September or October. COVID-19 has been a bit more seasonal each year, but we start to predict peaks in October. What you’ll notice is that all of those will start to overlap.”

How vaccinations play a role

As millions of kids are returning to school, Dr. Kasper says it’s time to start scheduling checkups with their pediatrician and discussing back-to-school vaccinations.

“Vaccination now has more of an effect of protecting the individual so they can remain in their activities, school or job as long as possible,” Dr. Kasper says. “We know in most situations there is more than one person in the household and more than one child at home. It's also helping decrease spread within the family unit when these things are brought home."

The flu vaccine, Dr. Kasper says, is recommended for anyone 6 months or older. Whereas the RSV vaccine is only available to certain people.

"RSV is most severe in our younger populations, ages 2 or younger, or in those 60 and older. While vaccination is only offered in select age groups, including pregnant women, there is still benefit to the family unit for the family to make sure those who can be vaccinated against RSV do get those at the appropriate time,” Dr. Kasper says.

The COVID-19 pandemic may have come and gone, but the recommendation for yearly vaccination is starting to resemble the same strategy as the flu vaccine.

"COVID-19 guidance will be a little different,” Dr. Kasper adds. “We're expecting an updated vaccine that will come out in the fall, probably October. We'll have unique recommendations for different age groups or those with medical conditions. But I'd expect the recommendation of one additional COVID-19 vaccine or booster for the fall into winter season.”

Respiratory virus symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lists a dozen symptoms you may potentially experience if you become sick with one of the abovementioned viruses.

-          Fever

-          Chills

-          Fatigue (tiredness)

-          Cough

-          Runny or stuffy nose

-          Decrease in appetite

-          Sore throat

-          Vomiting

-          New loss of taste or smell

-          Headache, muscle or body aches

-          Diarrhea

-          Weakness

If you have trouble breathing or chest pain, seek emergency medical care immediately.

The CDC’s current recommendation is to stay home and away from others until at least 24 hours after you are fever-free, and your symptoms are improving. Remember to wash your hands and improve airflow by opening windows and bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air or spending time outdoors. Make sure to routinely change your central heating, ventilation and air conditioning system filters every few months.

Video Interview Clips

The viruses have come and gone in waves. In the late fall, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was spreading quickly through younger children and older adults. Fast forward to the present day, COVID-19 is once again the main antagonist, while influenza remains in the community as well.

“RSV cases have steadily down trended over the last month ago. Concurrently, we’ve seen an increase in influenza activity. Influenza activity is also seasonal, and was expected to happen during this period,” says Douglas Kasper, MD, infectious disease specialist with OSF HealthCare. “Influenza cases have also taken a downturn over the last two weeks. Typically, we will see a second spike of flu cases in March and April, so it’s not too late to get your flu shot.”

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) COVID-19 Tracker indicated that Illinois was at a medium level for COVID-19 hospitalizations through the week ending January 13^th.

Dr. Kasper is also the section head of infectious disease at the University of Illinois College of Medicine Peoria. He says COVID-19 cases are making the rounds throughout OSF hospitals across the communities OSF serves, in large part due to holiday gatherings, travel and kids going back to school.

“When we talked about COVID-19 in the beginning, we were worried about very severe infections,” Dr. Kasper says. “Fortunately, that has diminished significantly. We still do see people in the hospital, particularly those who are the most vulnerable, that can have difficult times clearing COVID infection. But for the majority of the population who are getting infected, most people are on their second, third, or even more number of times being infected. The severity of symptoms seems to be less than prior infection, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t disrupt their life.”

Dr. Kasper says the best way to protect yourself against severe infection is still the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Vaccination remains the best tool. We know you can still become infected after becoming vaccinated, but the benefit of the vaccine is lessening the severity of symptoms and returning to whatever activity you have planned,” he says.

The current COVID-19 vaccine is not a booster, as some may think. It’s a reformulated vaccine that’s considered to be separate, as far as the COVID-19 strains it covers, according to Dr. Kasper.

“If you’ve received a few COVID-19 shots in 2021 or 2022, you got a booster and you felt like this was a reiteration of that, it’s a little different. That’s the benefit of at least one more COVID vaccine,” Dr. Kasper says. “It adds to the library of immunity in our population. Something that’s different than just boosting over and over again.”

Another tool available to stop the spread of COVID-19 is testing. Free tests are available at COVID.gov. At least four tests can be shipped to your home, free of charge. Dr. Kasper says this is a great way for people with mild symptoms to have peace of mind, and not spread the virus to others if they are positive.

“Testing for COVID-19 is unique. It can be done rapidly; it can be done at home. It does lend some information, as well, if you’re going to be hosting people or traveling where you may want to make others aware if you tested positive,” Dr. Kasper says. “If you’re feeling ill, and you take a test, try to rest and stay at home from work until you’re feeling better. Then, whatever period of infectiousness you’ve had will have passed by that point.”

For more severe cases of COVID-19, Dr. Kasper says Paxlovid has become a widespread option for patients.

“Paxlovid is a combination of two antiviral medications,” Dr. Kasper says. “They work to kill the virus. They terminate the virus from replicating, that’s all they do. They don’t modify your immune system or do anything to your blood cells or modify any other part of your body.  When you have a viral infection and you want to take an antiviral medication, you want to stop the virus from creating new copies of itself. Also, you want to do that as early as possible.”

Dr. Kasper says Paxlovid, and other antiviral medications, are available for positive COVID-19 patients through OSF PromptCare, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, and primary care locations so you don’t have to visit the emergency room. He adds that Tamiflu is often used when people are having a more severe flu case.

OSF HealthCare offers telehealth options that are available by phone or computer. You can talk quickly to an OSF OnCall medical provider at osfoncall.org/virtualvisit. They can walk you through your symptoms and provide a treatment plan and medication if needed.

Video Interview Clips

It can boost your health!

OSF HealthCare Family Medicine Physician, Dr. Alina Paul, sings and plays guitar for patients. 

She says benefits include pain reduction, better lung capacity, more confidence and a sense of belonging. It even helps with dementia.

“Don’t take it as an exercise. Don’t do it because you have to. Do it because you want to do it. Anybody can sing. Make a point to sing. It’s like meditation. It’s very beneficial," Dr. Paul says.

 If singing causes your throat or chest to hurt, take a break. 

Another pesky thing that may bother your throat or chest? That lingering cough.

It's common with all of the upper respiratory illnesses going around including colds, COVID-19, flu and Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).

If you treated your symptoms and you're feeling better, but the cough is sticking around, Dr. Juanbosco Ayala, a Pulmonologist with OSF HealthCare, has some reasons why.

“A lot of times it’s due to the local inflammation that persists. There’s not much to do for it, we typically recommend antihistamines, and sometimes you’ll have to cycle those," Dr. Ayala says. "It’s usually something that subsides with time. But if it doesn’t, then obviously that may need to be looked at.”

Among the over-the-counter meds that may help clear you up include Claritin-D, Benadryl, Allegra and Mucinex.

Health Highlights Video Version With Chyrons

Health Highlights Video Version Without Chyrons

'Tis the season of sharing. Both gifts and germs. 

Right now, your child may be writing Santa Claus for gifts, some of which may include battery-powered items. 

However, these can pose health hazards to young children. 

An Illinois family issues a warning after their child swallowed a tiny lithium battery.

“She was struggling with something that was stuck in her esophagus and starting to show signs of discomfort and pain," says Joseph Mumbu, father of Liana Mumbu who swallowed a tiny lithium battery.

“Time is of the essence." emphasizes Dr. Daniel Robertson, a surgeon with OSF Children's Hospital of Illinois.

Quickly, Joseph rushed Liana to a hospital of Canton, Illinois. The team there quickly contacted the OSF Care-Hub, who alerted Dr. Robertson. 

An ambulance ride and a trip to the operating room at OSF Children's Hospital led to Dr. Robertson operating and saving Liana's life. 

Dr. Robertson emphasizes that saliva can cause an electrical current, burning the esophagus within two hours. Quick removal is crucial to prevent irreversible damage.

A year ago, an early season start to respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, prompted OSF OnCall to launch an at-home monitoring program for infants to 5-year-olds with the virus. 

RSV is the leading cause of hospitalizations for infants and children. 

Now, OSF has expanded the program to include remote monitoring and 24/7 support for all pediatric respiratory viruses.

“They love having support anytime in the day, however they want to do it – text message, phone call, anything. They can send us pictures. We've really kind of taken that to tailor what parents need to feel comfortable taking their children home, you know, from a clinic; from the hospital during the scary time," says Rose Smith, Clinical Digital Care Supervisor with OSF OnCall.

A medical provider must confirm a diagnosis and make a referral to the program. Call or visit your child's pediatrician to get started.

The National Safety Council says each year, more than 3,500 people swallow lithium batteries. 

Another big warning, don't induce vomiting but instead get to your nearest hospital emergency department.

Health Highlights Video Version With Chyrons

Health Highlights Video Version Without Chyrons

As many viruses are circulating around our communities, it is paramount to monitor your symptoms and know when the right time is to seek medical care in person. Sarah Overton, the Chief Nursing Officer for OSF Medical Group, Home Care and Employee Health, stresses the importance of virtual care when your symptoms are mild.

“That way we’re not exposing you to anyone in the public and you’re not exposing the health care worker to illness,” Overton says. “Unfortunately, we are seeing an increase in health care worker illness where our nurses and doctors have to stay home because they are being exposed to illness.”

Hospitals across the OSF Ministry have been seeing a spike in COVID-19 patients. If you suspect you have COVID-19 but your symptoms are mild, take an at-home COVID-19 test. The federal government has another stockpile of at-home tests that are free to order on COVID.gov. Every household can receive four free rapid tests. Dr. Brian Curtis, Vice President of Clinical Specialty Services with OSF HealthCare, says taking tests at home will help free up space at medical facilities.

“Coming in just to get tested takes up spots for the people that are really sick or are high-risk,” Dr. Curtis says.

“The Emergency Room is reserved for those true emergencies,” Overton adds. “We have patients that have heart attacks and lung issues with their COPD. Additional patients overflowing the Emergency Room takes away precious time from assessing those patients who shouldn’t be exposed to those viruses while being in our waiting rooms.”

But COVID-19 isn’t the only virus making the rounds in our communities right now. Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and others are being seen often as well. So how can we stop the spread of viruses?

·         Stay home when you aren’t feeling well.

·         Wash your hands and use hand sanitizer regularly.

·         Cough or sneeze into your elbow.

·         Wipe down high-touch surfaces with disinfectant wipes.

·         Don’t share glasses or silverware with others.

·         Receive the flu shot.

For treating mild symptoms at home, Dr. Curtis offers some guidance for using over-the-counter options.

“You can take Tylenol or Motrin for fevers and aches. Make sure to drink plenty of fluids and get plenty of rest,” Dr. Curtis says.

Overton says to make sure you read the labels on any over-the-counter medication you buy. If you have any questions, you can ask a retail pharmacist, or send a message through MyChart to your OSF care team.

When is the right time to be seen?

“If you have a super deep cough that’s hanging on for quite a while or have a fever that lasts for several days,” Overton says. “Or if you have high-risk factors and may benefit from some of our medications for COVID, like Paxlovid, which are readily available in our retail pharmacy locations. We also have COVID-19 boosters able to be administered in our primary care offices.”

“There is a medication for influenza, but if you have a mild case, you’ll have more side effects from the medication than you are having from influenza itself. As far as RSV goes, there’s really no treatment for it except for supportive care.”

If you are sick and plan to visit a medical facility, please cover your face with a mask to decrease exposure to the health care workers.

Below you will find data about patient volumes in both the Peoria and Bloomington markets. The 7-day period covers November 28-December 4, and the 30-day period is for November 5-December 4.

Peoria Primary Care visits:

7-day period: 8,302 (1.6% increase from same 7-day period last year)

30-day period: 32,639 (4% increase from same 30-day period last year)

Peoria OnCall Urgent Care visits:

7-day period: 2,643

30-day period: 10,672 (13% increase from month before, 8.1% increase from same 30-day period last year)

Peoria PromptCare visits:

7-day period: 1,743

30-day period: 7,190 (14.3% increase from month prior)

OSF Saint Francis Medical Center Emergency Department - Peoria

7-day period: 1,625 (11.1% increase from week prior)

30-day period: 6,729

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center - Bloomington

Bloomington Primary Care visits:

7-day period: 2,897 (41.5% increase from week before)

30-day period: 11,608

Bloomington OnCall Urgent care visits:

7-day period: 848 (16.8% increase from week before)

30-day period: 3,508 (10.3% increase from month prior)

Bloomington PromptCare

7-day: 1,517

30-day: 6,176 (16.2% increase from month prior)

Sarah Overton Video Interview Clips

Dr. Brian Curtis Video Interview Clips

After nearly six decades of research, experiments and testing, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has officially approved the first RSV vaccine.

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a common respiratory virus that causes mild, cold-like symptoms. While the virus is normally mild in most people, it can be extremely serious for infants and some higher-risk older adults.

Douglas Kasper, MD, section head of infectious disease at the University Of Illinois College Of Medicine Peoria and an infectious disease specialist for OSF HealthCare, says, currently, the Arexvy vaccine is only approved for individuals 60 and older but the hope is to expand who can receive the RSV vaccine by the end of summer.

“There are ongoing trials looking at vaccinating mothers who are pregnant,” Dr. Kasper says. “This would be for potential protection of unborn children, but that has not been approved yet. There’s expected re-evaluation of that data coming this summer. Hopefully by August we get some updated patient groups.”

Dr. Kasper says if the RSV vaccine is successful in pregnant women, it could provide life-saving antibodies for their babies.

“We’re trying to use the mother’s ability to create an immune response, because the baby cannot do that on their own. So if we can vaccinate during pregnancy, which is the study group we’re awaiting data for, there would be a huge benefit for young children that currently does not exist,” Dr. Kasper says.

Dr. Kasper says this vaccine is much different than the COVID-19 vaccine.

“This is not an MRNA vaccine which is something we talked very commonly with COVID-19,” Dr. Kasper says. “This is more of a traditional vaccine. The person is being exposed to a protein from the virus and then they make an immune response that protects them if they were ever exposed to the virus. It’s much more akin to the influenza vaccine that most people are comfortable with.”

Dr. Kasper says most older adults who get RSV experience mild symptoms. But he says doctors have seen a change in RSV symptoms during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Particularly those with chronic lung disease, RSV can almost mimic COVID-like illness that brought some people to the hospital,” Dr. Kasper says.

Dr. Kasper adds that the late summer timing would be good to expand the RSV vaccine for other high-risk groups, since most cases are normally seen in the fall through spring.

Video Interview Clips

Every year Merriam-Webster adds new words to the dictionary, often those that have made their way into everyday language and pop culture.

While it’s not officially on the list, the term “tripledemic” is certainly a strong contender. The word was coined to describe the near simultaneous increase in COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, cases. Millions across the country have been getting sick at an alarming rate earlier than normal, particularly for flu, putting increased pressure on health care systems across the country.

Young children, those under two-years-old, are particularly susceptible to RSV, as well as those with other chronic health conditions. Children typically develop anything from cold-like symptoms to a more severe cough or even trouble breathing.

Dr. Keith Hanson, a pediatrician with Peoria, Illinois-based OSF HealthCare Children’s Hospital of Illinois, says RSV is doing what RSV has done for decades, but we have become a little bit complacent because kids weren’t really sick for the last couple years due to COVID-19 lockdowns, limitations and mask-wearing.

“It definitely is more severe than other years, more patients, but every three to four years we kind of have a busy year anyway, whether it's from RSV or flu or other viruses. So it's not unusual by a five-year trend to have a lot more patients,” says Dr. Hanson.

One of the challenges from an infectious disease perspective is that what may start as RSV or the flu, whether it be a child or an adult, can get a lot worse because of secondary bacterial infections.

“So the bacteria is taking advantage of going down to deep in your lungs. Going to the sterile sites better – ears, sinuses and other soft tissues. You don't think that the viral infection(s) are only some of the problem but the complications are also the problem,” explains Dr. Mustafa Bakir with OSF HealthCare.

As a pediatric infectious disease specialist, Dr. Bakir wants to reassure parents that – for the most part – they should not be overly concerned about the increase in cases of COVID-19, flu and RSV in kids, unless their child has other conditions that affect their immune system.

But both he and Dr. Hanson agree parents DO need to be attentive to any symptoms their child might have because there isn’t a magic pill that can cure any of them.

“It's not like an antibiotic you can take and be better in two or three days, they may shorten your illness, maybe a little bit less severe, but it's not going to make you feel a lot better very quickly or necessarily prevent transmission. There's not much we can do for all these viral illnesses besides supportive care and contain the spread,” says Dr. Hanson. “Do they have a fever or trouble breathing? Or are they not drinking enough? Those are the same kind of things that you would have watched for anytime. And it's the same now. So even though these things are in the news, we are seeing more cases, the average person, especially if you don’t have any other medical conditions, doesn't have to do anything that you would be doing otherwise as a parent and just kind of watch out for those common things.”

With the winter respiratory season far from over, and in the wake of holiday get-togethers and travel, and with schools set to get back into session, a few of the COVID-era prevention strategies that have fallen by the wayside are recommended by both doctors.

Dr. Bakir stresses “Don't go to public places if you're sick, if your kid is sick. Don't take your kid to public places. This is going to protect your kid as well. He needs to be a home and take some rest. And sanitation of your hands. Please, please use a mask. It's a very simple, cheap and very effective way to prevent the disease.”

Adds Dr. Hanson: “Vaccination can't be emphasized enough for influenza, for COVID, if eligible depending on the age. Unfortunately there isn't one for RSV, though. It's been under researched for many years. The benefits of vaccination greatly outweigh the risks, not just for yourself, because it’s going to reduce transmission, reduces various illness, but also preventing continued spread in our communities.”

If your child or any family member is running a high fever or is having difficulty breathing, you are encouraged to contact your primary care physician or seek urgent/emergency care if necessary. OSF HealthCare has also established a remote monitoring program for infants and toddlers with RSV through OSF OnCall Digital Health.

Dr. Keith Hanson interview clips

Dr. Mustafa Bakir interview clips

It’s the worst flu season in more than a decade. That, combined with an earlier and harsher season for another common virus RSV, has prompted OSF OnCall Digital Health to launch a no-cost, at-home monitoring program for RSV.

The collaborative effort with OSF clinical outpatient and hospital leaders will not only provide comfort and supportive care for patients and parents, it can also keep infants and toddlers out of the hospital. The remote patient monitoring (RPM) program is also in response to a state public health alert about a growing lack of pediatric ICU beds due to RSV.

RSV is the number one reason for hospitalization of children under age 1 in the United States. It can lead to bronchiolitis (inflammation of the small airways in the lung) and pneumonia (infection of the lungs), especially in babies.

However, Mary Stapel, MD, lead physician for Community Care for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center says RSV can often be managed at home.

“For the more common cold type symptoms, we can recommend  conservative treatments at home: nasal saline with some suctioning, a cool mist humidifier you know, just kind of frequent, small feedings to optimize keeping that child hydrated.” 

Clinical Digital Care Supervisor Rose Smith, MSN, BSN, RN, says OSF OnCall was able to implement its 24/7 digitally enabled, at-home monitoring program for RSV quickly, because of its experience with similar efforts to help patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes and heart failure. In the first week of the RSV support program, more than 70 parents and caregivers have enrolled newborns and children up to age 5. Smith says they love it.

“They love having support anytime in the day, however they want to do it – text message, phone call, anything. They can send us pictures. We've really kind of taken that to tailor what parents need to feel comfortable taking their children home, you know, from a clinic; from the hospital during the scary time with RSV.” 

OSF OnCall providers and at-home caregivers use a software application that provides education or digital prompts to report relevant signs/symptoms over 10 days. Smith says upon enrollment, parents receive a care kit for at-home use from their provider following a visit or a digital community health worker can deliver one.

“We have a pulse oximeter to monitor oxygen levels and their heart rate and then we have a thermometer and then we also provide saline spray, and then a bulb syringe. A lot of parents, when their babies are born, they use them in the hospital, but they might not know that they can use them to help relieve any secretions especially before feeding their children.”

Smith adds, it’s also important to clear the nose before a nap or bedtime.  Parents or guardians also receive step-by-step written instructions as well as a video demonstration for how to use what’s provided in the kit.

The OnCall RSV RPM program is for anyone in Illinois or Michigan. Patients must have a positive RSV test or an RSV diagnosis to qualify. Referrals can be made by providers in a hospital emergency department, OSF OnCall Urgent Care, OSF PromptCare, medical offices, or following hospital discharge.

Smith says parents who have a child in the program can request a video visit at any time. The nursing staff will also recommend a video visit if needed.

“If they think their child looks off, we just have another set of eyes. The providers will look at it (to see if they need higher level of care). Sometimes our nurses can tell the parents you know, ‘We think they need to be seen. Can we do a video visit just before you take your child out especially now that it's colder out?’ You know, we don't want them if they're having trouble breathing to go outside, but we really just focus on what works best to still get them the care that they need.” 

Respiratory-related complaints made up half of all hospital emergency department visits at OSF in November, totaling 9,383 patients. Nearly 40% of those were infants and children.

At OSF HealthCare and across the country, there is concern that indoor holiday gatherings could accelerate the transmission of RSV, the flu and COVID-19, spreading hospitals and their staff thin. Some pediatric groups have been urging the federal government to declare a public health emergency in response to the surge in RSV and other respiratory illnesses. Dr. Stapel, says the three viruses have already impacted staffing across the country.

“It's not only a hard time with staffing already, but you add the holidays, you add illness, and so I think it's going to be a challenge and I think we're already doing this here, but I think preparing for what that surge, ongoing surge with staffing, and what surge capacity looks like … it's an important thing for every institution.” 

If you suspect your child has symptoms of RSV that don’t appear life-threatening, you can reach out to your pediatrician or primary care provider.

Video clips with Dr. Mary Stapel, lead physician for Community Care for OSF HealthCare Saint Francis Medical Center 

Video clips with nurse Rose Smith, Clinical Digital Care supervisor

B-roll for emote monitoring for infants-children with RSV

Nick Cannon is a busy man. 

The comedian, TV host and rapper, is also a father of 11, a lupus survivor and now he's battling another illness. Cannon recently posted on social media he was hospitalized with pneumonia. 

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs that can cause mild to severe illness in people of all ages. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), viruses, bacteria, and fungi can all cause pneumonia.

In the United States, common causes of viral pneumonia are:

• Influenza viruses
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19)

“COVID is kind of a wild card," says BreAnne Gendron, an advanced practice registered nurse (APRN), for OSF HealthCare. "It does create symptoms of shortness of breath. People can have fevers, it is a viral illness. It’s seven to 10 days where people will have a day where they start feeling better. If you have shortness of breath, no matter what your diagnosis is, you want to seek treatment. The concern with COVID isn’t so much pneumonia as blood clots in your lungs causing shortness of breath. We would want to make sure that you're safe in regards to that side of it.”

Most of the people affected by pneumonia in the United States are adults. CDC data shows more than 47,000 people died from pneumonia in 2020.

“Pneumonia is an infection that gets the travels through your lungs for one reason or another," says Gendron. "Whether you are prone to infection because your immune system is suppressed. Smokers are more prone to pneumonia, people with COPD or asthma or other lung conditions. If you work in a place where there's lots of people in one place, you're more likely to be sick and that can lead to pneumonia.”

Symptoms of pneumonia include high fever, fatigue, chills, cough, chest pain, shortness of breath and headache. Walking pneumonia is a nonmedical term which refers to a milder case of pneumonia.

“If you have a fever greater than 101, or if you are a person that has any of those high risk factors, you have COPD, you’re immune compromised, any of these things that would make you higher risk for pneumonia, and you should seek treatment," says Gendron.  "It’s better to be safe than sorry; it's easier to treat you when you're less ill than when you're struggling to breathe and we have to send you to the emergency room.”

Gendron says people who have pneumonia are prone to getting it again. Treatment options include antibiotics for bacterial pneumonia and rest and fluids are in order for viral pneumonia.

The CDC recommends children younger than age five and adults 65 and older get the pneumococcal vaccine, along with children and adults who are at a higher risk due to other health conditions.

“Your health care provider may recommend that you get the pneumonia vaccine younger than 65, but everybody over the age of 65 should have a pneumonia vaccine because that’s when people are at high risk for developing it," says Gendron. "As we age our immune systems are generally less effective than they were when we were young. So it’s good to get the vaccine after 65.”

Gendron offers other tips to help stay healthy this winter – avoid people who are sick, wash your hands often, quit smoking and manage conditions like diabetes, asthma and heart disease.

“When you’re wondering if it’s pneumonia or walking pneumonia, it doesn’t really matter which one it is," she adds. "You need to go by your symptoms and if you’re having high fevers, shortness of breath, you’re coughing so much you can’t sleep at night that you feel like you need help. You should be seen so that we can make sure you’re safe.”

For more information on pneumonia, visit OSF HealthCare.

Interview Clips