Record number of parents miss work as respiratory illnesses spike in kids

https://arstechnica.com/science/2022/11/record-number-of-parents-miss-work-as-respiratory-illnesses-spike-in-kids/

by mfiguiere • 4 years ago

16 3 4 years ago

Two hypotheses:

(1) There’s a lack of immunity to some old respiratory viruses that mutate every year. Should be back to normal in 1-2 years.

(2) COVID has made people more aware of respiratory illness in general. It has introduced basically everyone to the idea (and habit) of testing themselves. This means more people reporting, and more stories written about it. Whether this is a truly unusual spike (as opposed to being just seasonal) I’d be interested to know.

dragonwriter• 4 years ago

(2) wouldn't explain the corresponding spike in pediatric ICU cases. Increased awareness and parental caution (and stronger COVID-driven school and daycare policies for kids to stay home from school with respiratory illness) would explain more lost days of work, but not kids ending up in ICUs.

AuryGlenz• 4 years ago

“Like SARS-CoV-2, the transmission of RSV, flu, and other seasonal viruses can be reduced by simple health measures like mask-wearing, avoiding crowds, staying home when sick, and hygiene measures.”

Almost every child gets RSV before the age of 2. I don’t think we can go putting masks on babies, keeping them out of daycare, and encouraging them to wash their hands.

Not that adults can’t get it and transmit it, but my understanding is that it pretty much just washes through daycares in waves.

Record number of parents miss work as respiratory illnesses spike in kids

Related Stories