An Alphabet Soup of Viruses: RSV, Flu, and COVID-19

While influenza and respiratory viruses can spread year round, cases occur most frequently between fall and spring. This week, Dr. James McDonald and Dr. Philip Chan are talking about respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, and how it compares to flu and COVID-19. RSV is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild symptoms similar to those of a cold. Most people recover in a week or two. But RSV can be serious, especially for infants and older adults. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, RSV leads to approximately 58,000 hospitalizations on average each year in the United States. Our guest expert this week is Dr. Michael Koster. He’s the division director for pediatric diseases at Hasbro Children’s Hospital and an associate professor of pediatrics at The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University. Dr. Koster’s research interests include viral respiratory illnesses, osteoarticular infections, and pneumonia in children.  How has COVID-19 impacted the infection season for RSV and flu? How can parents protect themselves and their kids from viral infections? Download this week’s episode to find out.