Slater’s Children Have Sore Throats And A Cough…Yes, It Can Happen In The Summer

My two children and I were hanging out with some friends over the Fourth of July weekend when I noticed one of Liam and Olli's friends sneezing and coughing. His mom told me it was allergies, and that "he gets this every year".

A few days later, she told me that she was starting to get congested and cough as well.

RUH ROH. Guess what, allergies aren't contagious.

My first thought was obviously COVID-19; however, the case numbers are so low around here, plus I keep learning of similar stories among children with THE SAME symptoms...the barky, croupy cough, slight runny noses, mild congestion, but no fever, aches, or chills.

Well, now it's Liam and Olli's turn as just this morning they awoke with barky coughs and sore throats...

The point is, it's not all COVID-19 all the time. As the pandemic seems to be winding down, the masks are coming off and people are gathering, and with that comes the spread of viruses that seemed to be dormant over the winter.

Bad news for parents of young kids: summer colds are back. Things like strategic mask wearing during story time or homework with a sick child can help prevent you from catching and spreading the cold. -npr.org

Respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, is a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms.

Now, RSV normally spikes between October and April, according to the City of Pittsfield's Health Department's Kayla Donnelly; however, are we seeing an uptick in cases now?

I cannot confirm any hard numbers; however, the more parents I talk to, the more I hear it...

Let me be clear, if you presume a COVID infection, get tested!

Parents, beware of summer viruses! This is the reality of a post-pandemic summer.