These days, a sniffle, sneeze, or cough can raise red flags for families with young children.

Vickie Leon, a mother of two, said her 4- and 2-year-old children may go a month or two without bringing anything home from daycare. Then again, there are moments when it seems like every other week, the family in Aurora, Colorado, is contagious.

We're just in it for a while until that happens, she remarked.

The respiratory virus RSV, which can cause a runny nose, decreased appetite, coughing, sneezing, fever, and wheezing, is causing health care systems to become overburdened with patients. Many children have spent years socially isolating themselves to protect themselves from Covid-19.

Viral infection has historically been widespread. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost every kid contracts RSV at least point before they reach two. According to Dr. William Schaffner, a professor in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville, Tennessee, immunity acquired after an infection frequently diminish over time, causing individuals to contract repeated diseases throughout their lifespan.

According to Dr. Leana Wen, a professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health and a CNN Medical Analyst, more people are currently experiencing their first — and most severe — infection from RSV while many children were kept home to protect against Covid-19.

According to Schaffner, who also serves as the medical director of the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases, an RSV infection is frequently mild but may be cause for concern in early newborns, kids with underlying medical disorders, and elderly people.

Catching RSV and other viral and bacterial infections is a part of children growing up and establishing their immune systems, observed Wen, who is also author of "Lifelines: A Doctor's Journey in the Fight for Public Health." That doesn't mean it is time to panic, he added.

Here are some tips from professionals on how to determine when to keep your child home from school and when to take them to the doctor.


Is it the flu, Covid, RSV, or a cold?

This winter is rife with illnesses, including colds, the flu, strep throat, RSV, and the lingering Covid-19, all of which can present with similar symptoms, according to Schaffner. When a patient is present in the office, even knowledgeable doctors could struggle to distinguish between them, he added.

Even if it is difficult to identify the precise virus or bacteria that is the source of upper respiratory infections, Wen added that doctors are well-versed in treating them and have the necessary tools.

Whatever virus or bacteria is causing headaches, sore throats, or sniffles in your home, how you respond will probably depend on the age, symptoms, and health of your child, she added.


Should your child remain at home?

Public health officials prefer it if no child displaying symptoms is sent to school or daycare, where they may spread diseases, according to Schaffner. However, he continued, that is not always the best advise, particularly for single parents or carers who must attend work.

He stated that at-home tests can reveal whether a youngster has Covid-19 infection. However, there might not be an effective way to be certain for other viruses, such as a cold.

High fever, vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty eating, poor sleep, or breathing issues are a few symptoms that may actually indicate it's time to keep your child home from daycare or school, according to Wen.

It may be broken down into two main factors, according to Donna Mazyck, a licensed nurse and executive director of the National Association of School Nurses: Does the child have a temperature and are they too sick to fully participate in learning?

Families should also review the policies of their child's school, some of which may be specific about when a child needs to be kept home from school and others of which will rely more on parental discretion, the expert advised.

When in doubt, Wen advised consulting the school's policies and developing a plan with a pediatrician.

And if your child has a medical condition that puts them at higher risk, talk to your pediatrician before they get sick so you'll know what to look for.


When should they be sent back?

Once more, this is a situation where schools may have varied policies, so Wen advised checking with printed information, a school administrator, or a school nurse.

Before a child enters the classroom again, she explained, "generally, the schools will ask that the child be fever free without the use of fever-reducing medications."

According to Wen, it might not be reasonable to keep asthmatic or allergic kids home from school whenever they exhibit coughing or sniffling symptoms. That might keep them away for half the year.

Additionally, some symptoms, such as a persistent cough, may linger after an infection has subsided and a kid has recovered. In some circumstances, sending a child back to school might be permissible, according to Mazyck, who emphasized the need to confirm the policies of the particular institution.


When should I get medical help?

Families are frequently good at taking their kids to the pediatrician when they feel ill, according to Schaffner. Nevertheless, he continued, it is crucial to remind families that doctors would rather see children who aren't feeling well sooner rather than later, especially with so many things going around.

Parents and guardians would also be justified in sending their children to the pediatrician and seeking medical attention if they appear listless, quit eating, or have trouble breathing, Schaffner said. This is especially true if the symptoms increase.

He declared, "They shouldn't think twice about this."

Wen noted that for younger infants and babies, it may be necessary to visit the emergency hospital if they are having trouble swallowing liquid or have dry diapers, flaring nostrils, difficulty breathing, or a chest that contracts when it should expand.

Wen advised parents to seek emergency care for school-age children who are having difficulty breathing and speaking in full sentences. Fortunately, most people won't require emergency care, and those who do are typically well enough to return home within a couple of days, according to Schaffner.

Parents need to be aware that treating RSV and other respiratory infections is what pediatricians and emergency room doctors do for a living, according to Wen. "We operate in this way."


How to stop the spread of disease?

Teach your kids to practice the hygiene habits that medical professionals had been advocating long before the pandemic, such as washing hands, using hand sanitizer when a sink isn't available, coughing and sneezing into an elbow or tissue, and not sharing food or utensils with friends, Wen advised, to prevent these respiratory illnesses.

Although the US Food and Drug Administration has not yet licensed a vaccination for RSV, Schaffner noted that there are effective vaccines available for influenza and Covid-19.

Talk to your child's doctor about immunizing them against these viruses if they haven't already, he added.