Pediatricians warn respiratory viruses are on the rise in kids, advise flu shots

DEKALB COUNTY, Ga. — Local pediatricians are now weighing in on an increase in upper respiratory viral infection cases among children.

“Upper respiratory viral infections or respiratory viral infections … they all have different names … it is your typical cold, cough and flus that we see this time of year, starting now and through the winter months,” said pediatrician Dr. Andrew Doyle with Wellstar Health System.

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Local mother Tara Hanover said when her son returned from school with a persistent cough, she thought he possibly had COVID-19.

“So of course you question yourself, is it season change, is it COVID? You’re wondering what it is,” Hanover said.

Hanover’s son had a respiratory infection, but Doyle said he understood why some people mistake an average upper respiratory viral infection for the more serious COVID-19 virus.

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“COVID is also a respiratory viral infection. It is in the same class as all those other ones that we were familiar with,” Doyle said.

He said it’s important that more kids wear a mask and get their flu shot this season.

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“Getting your child vaccinated for flu will greatly decrease their chances of getting flu which is the more serious of these respiratory viral infections,” Doyle said.

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