Providers at UPMC Children’s Community Pediatrics in York and Spring Grove were diagnosed with COVID-19 and strep throat this week.
This week, Penn State Health pediatricians are seeing cases of hand, foot and mouth disease, COVID-19, numerous colds, stomach bugs, viral respiratory infections and some influenza.
CVS MinuteClinic in York is reporting strep throat, viral upper respiratory tract infections and COVID-19 this week.
Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health Center-Roswell Pediatrics has reported numerous cases of fever, many without other symptoms, likely consistent with roseola. This is a specific virus that causes a high fever for two to three days, followed by a lacy rash with no other cold symptoms.
They found a number of cases of strep throat, more cases of the flu, and an increase in stomach bugs and enteroviruses.
Dr. Joan Thode offers the following advice on enteroviruses and diarrhea:
“The official name for gastrointestinal bacteria is gastroenteritis, which is inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract. This inflammation is caused by any one of a number of viruses and usually starts with vomiting and ends with diarrhea, but the reverse can also be true.
Intestinal cells are designed to absorb specific substances from passing food into the bloodstream. Viruses can damage these cells and hinder their ability to absorb. Once the virus is gone and the cells lining the gut have had a chance to be replaced, the resulting diarrhea will go away. This process can take up to a week, especially in young children, so diarrhea often lasts longer than the initial vomiting.
Since the main material lost in diarrhea is water, the first goal in children with acute gastroenteritis is to rehydrate. Water is the ideal hydration for children over 12 months old. Babies younger than 12 months have immature kidneys, so hydration should be coordinated with your child’s doctor. Electrolyte solutions such as Pedialyte can be used to treat vomiting or diarrhea, keeping in mind that water should be the primary form of fluid replacement.
Although your child’s doctor may prescribe a medication to reduce vomiting, antidiarrheal medications are not recommended because they can cause the infection to stay in the intestines longer.
Children of any age who are unable to pass fluid due to vomiting and/or show signs of dehydration including decreased urine output, decreased tears, dry mouth, and chapped lips should be evaluated by a doctor immediately.
Enteroviruses are unique and particularly nasty viruses that not only cause cold symptoms like sore throat and congestion, but can also affect the tissues of your gastrointestinal tract, causing abdominal pain and diarrhea. Enteroviruses typically cause fever, which can last an average of four to seven days. The same rules apply to dehydration, as this virus commonly causes dehydration in infants and young children. “