How Do Respiratory Viral Infections Impact Pediatric Patients?

Matt Linam, MD, MS, Assistant Professor, Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, explains the impact of respiratory viral infections in children.

Interview Transcript (slightly modified for readability)

“Respiratory viral healthcare-associated infections can have a significant impact in children, especially in those that are immunosuppressed, like patients receiving chemotherapy, or infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, or the cardiovascular unit. Children that have underlying heart and lung disease, all of these are children who are at increased risk for having significant morbidity and sometimes even mortality. What for the rest of us may seem like the common cold, for them may actually prolong hospitalization, can increase their respiratory support requirements, delay their hospitalizations, and can cause some big problems.”