WHAT IS THE TRIPLEDEMIC?

Tripledemic is a term coined to describe when three respiratory viruses cause a significant increase in illnesses around the same time, and the increased number of ill people has the potential to overwhelm the healthcare system due to increased use of emergency rooms or hospital admissions. 

There is an ongoing tripledemic involving the three highly contagious viruses that affect the respiratory tract, i.e., Influenza, Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), and COVID-19. These viruses have the potential to cause severe illnesses and, at times, fatalities in children. 

COVID-19 has been making rounds, although in different strains, since 2019, and at times, the numbers peak or wane but have never gone away.

RSV and the influenza virus infections occur between Fall and Spring every year.

WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS TO WATCH FOR?

The symptoms are similar for the three illnesses.

Some of the symptoms common to the three viruses include:

• Cough
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Fever (100.4 F or 38 degrees C and above) 
• Chills
• Poor Appetite
• Fussiness in younger children
• Sneezing
• Trouble breathing in more severe cases
• Wheezing
• Headaches
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea

In addition to the above symptoms, Influenza and COVID-19 also cause:

• Fatigue
• Muscle or body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat 

Also, COVID-19 causes:  

• New loss of taste or smell

WHAT ARE THE TREATMENT OPTIONS?

 The treatment options are similar and include: 

 Symptomatic management means managing your child’s various symptoms while their body’s immune system fights these illnesses.

Treatment is mainly supportive for your child and includes: 

• Control fevers: give over-the-counter fever reducers (Acetaminophen, i.e., Tylenol or Ibuprofen ) depending on the child’s age and dose. Do not give Ibuprofen to a child less than six months. Contact your Pediatrician if you need clarification on the medication dose.
• Support your child’s breathing: For younger children, use nasal saline drops with gentle suctioning to clear your child’s nose. Also, use a cool mist humidifier.
• Monitor your child’s intake and keep the child well hydrated.
• There is an antiviral medication approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; the FDA is the body tasked with ensuring Public Health protection by ensuring Medications are safe and work as the manufacturers claim; https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/what-we-do) for influenza in children – TAMIFLU. Discuss this with your child’s Pediatrician. 
• There is an antiviral medication for COVID-19, Paxlovid. As of the time of writing this blog post, this medication is FDA-approved for adults but still needs full approval for use in children 12 -18 years old. Discuss further with your child’s Pediatrician.
• Currently, at the time of writing, there are no approved antiviral medications for RSV.

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO PREVENT THESE? 

Most viral illnesses are spread similarly, so preventive measures tend to be similar.

So, while at home with your child:

• Ensure good hygienic practices, which would include:

            – Teaching good handwashing with soap and water for at least 20 seconds

            – Cover cough and sneezes with tissue or in sleeves, not directly on hands.

• Disinfect hard surfaces in your home frequently.
• Keep your child at home when sick and avoid exposure to sick people.
• Influenza and COVID-19 have effective vaccines. I recommend these. Discuss further with your child’s Pediatrician.
• RSV has a new vaccine that can be given to a Pregnant woman (during weeks 32 through 36 of pregnancy) to protect her unborn baby, and there is also a monoclonal antibody for children less than 8 months of age. 

I advise reading my previous blogs about Influenza and RSV for more information on these specific viruses.

I strongly recommend every parent actively participates in managing and preventing these 3 viruses to help bring this tripledemic under control.

Remember, instituting preventive measures will significantly reduce your child’s possibility of severe symptoms and long-term effects.

Please stay safe!

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