What virus is going around right now Kansas?

A common respiratory virus is surging in the metro and nationally and sending some children to the hospital.Children's Mercy Hospital reports two weeks ago, there were 75 positive tests for the respiratory syncytial virus or RSV.Last week, that number jumped to 120."In a typical year, take 2019 for instance, RSV starts in November and ends sometime in the spring, typically March. It is unusual to see these numbers this early. We did see an early RSV spike in 2021 as well, but this one is higher than that one," said Dr. Angela Myers, infectious diseases division director at Children's Mercy Kansas City.One of the new cases involves a newborn girl, Pippa Pritchett, who was born Oct. 4.On Oct. 14, Pippa's mother, Kelly Pritchett, noticed her infant daughter was having difficulty breathing.After taking Pippa to Pediatric Associates in Kansas City, testing revealed the newborn's oxygen level was low enough for her to be taken by ambulance to Children’s Mercy.Pippa has been receiving oxygen treatments and is expected to make a full recovery."We're just thankful that she's going to make it and long term will be fine. We said we can get the baby snuggles in here as well as we can on our couch at home," Kelly said."Most kids really do great when they have this, one or two percent of the kids are going to need to be in the hospital or have that extra support," said Dr. Tanner Isaacson of Pediatric Associates.Dr. Isaacson said in the last week, Pediatric Associates has sent five patients to the hospital with RSV issues.According to Dr. Eric Peters, Overland Park Regional Medical Center is also seeing an increase in RSV cases.There were two hospital admissions in September, four the first two weeks in October and 11 this week."If your child is coughing and lethargic, take them to your pediatrician or an urgent care," Peters said. "Watch for dehydration, labored breathing, a high fever or unresponsiveness which requires a trip to the ER."Peters said the best way to prevent RSV is to teach your child to cough and sneeze into their elbows or a tissue and to practice good hand hygiene.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the U.S. an estimated 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized due to RSV infection.Children at greatest risk from RSV include premature infants, very young infants less than 6 months old, children younger than 2 with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, children with weakened immune systems and children who have neuromuscular disorders; including children who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

A common respiratory virus is surging in the metro and nationally and sending some children to the hospital.

Children's Mercy Hospital reports two weeks ago, there were 75 positive tests for the respiratory syncytial virus or RSV.

Last week, that number jumped to 120.

"In a typical year, take 2019 for instance, RSV starts in November and ends sometime in the spring, typically March. It is unusual to see these numbers this early. We did see an early RSV spike in 2021 as well, but this one is higher than that one," said Dr. Angela Myers, infectious diseases division director at Children's Mercy Kansas City.

One of the new cases involves a newborn girl, Pippa Pritchett, who was born Oct. 4.

On Oct. 14, Pippa's mother, Kelly Pritchett, noticed her infant daughter was having difficulty breathing.

After taking Pippa to Pediatric Associates in Kansas City, testing revealed the newborn's oxygen level was low enough for her to be taken by ambulance to Children’s Mercy.

Pippa has been receiving oxygen treatments and is expected to make a full recovery.

"We're just thankful that she's going to make it and long term will be fine. We said we can get the baby snuggles in here as well as we can on our couch at home," Kelly said.

"Most kids really do great when they have this, one or two percent of the kids are going to need to be in the hospital or have that extra support," said Dr. Tanner Isaacson of Pediatric Associates.

Dr. Isaacson said in the last week, Pediatric Associates has sent five patients to the hospital with RSV issues.

According to Dr. Eric Peters, Overland Park Regional Medical Center is also seeing an increase in RSV cases.

There were two hospital admissions in September, four the first two weeks in October and 11 this week.

"If your child is coughing and lethargic, take them to your pediatrician or an urgent care," Peters said. "Watch for dehydration, labored breathing, a high fever or unresponsiveness which requires a trip to the ER."

Peters said the best way to prevent RSV is to teach your child to cough and sneeze into their elbows or a tissue and to practice good hand hygiene.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, each year in the U.S. an estimated 58,000 children younger than 5 are hospitalized due to RSV infection.

Children at greatest risk from RSV include premature infants, very young infants less than 6 months old, children younger than 2 with chronic lung disease or congenital heart disease, children with weakened immune systems and children who have neuromuscular disorders; including children who have difficulty swallowing or clearing mucus secretions.