Health .. Respiratory viruses spread among children before their usual season in America

Doctors have advised vaccinating children against influenza as soon as possible this year.

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Pediatricians have reported that respiratory viruses that usually circulate in the fall are starting to emerge this summer, a sudden trend that could have repercussions for fall and winter.

Audrey Odom-John, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said her colleagues began noting last month the strange influx of children with respiratory syncytial virus and parainfluenza virus, the Philadelphia Inquirer reported.

For his part, Jonathan Miller, chief of primary care at the Nemours du Pont Children's Hospital in Delaware, said that the viruses were "really flowing", with 127 positive results for the respiratory syncytial virus examination in July, the largest number since February 2020.

This prompted Miller to think in advance about another respiratory virus that usually infects thousands in the fall and winter.

"We have the respiratory syncytial virus of the type that appears in January in July, so what does this mean for influenza?" he asked.

This is thought to mean that the flu can enter early and spread quickly among children, who spread it to adults.

Miller recommended that children get their flu shots as soon as possible this year.

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