According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, December is peak season for a highly contagious virus called RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus.
RSV is a respiratory virus that infects the lungs and breathing passages.
Healthy people usually experience mild, cold-like symptoms and recover in a week or two, but RSV can be serious for infants and older adults, according to the CDC.
A local pediatrician, Dr. Mary Soha, has been treating children with the virus.
“It started a little early this season. And I think there’s been a lot more adults with RSV this year,” said Soha.
Soha said parents will need to pay extra attention to their child’s cough and breathing. The symptoms will signal whether the child has something more than a common cold.
“The virus gets in between the lining of your airways and the structures and causes it to peel off like a bad sunburn,” said Soha.
“Children can act like they are having an asthma attack…even if there isn’t any family history. And the airway irritability can last for months,” said Soha.
Wolfson Children’s Hospital said it has treated 153 pediatric cases of RSV since Oct. 1.