Influenza is a viral infection that can be caused by different strains of Influenza virus. Although most people recover without incident, similar to COVID-19, certain groups are higher risk for severe illness (and even death): the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and young children (under age 5y - and especially those under 2y).

Home Test to Treat is a nationwide program providing free testing, telehealth and treatment. Regardless of insurance status, anyone with a current positive COVID-19 test may enroll for free telehealth treatment. Read more here.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus is the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in young infants, but it is not the only cause. For adults and older kids, RSV looks like any other respiratory illness: cold symptoms, some cough, often mild.

No one has a crystal ball. But here are my predictions for whether this respiratory season will be as bad as last year.

Now that school is starting, many parents start to worry about how to make sure their children stay healthy. This is when the immune boosting companies swoop in. Here’s the real scoop on immunity in children.

Hand, Foot & Mouth is a viral illness that most children encounter eventually. There is no treatment except time, but there are many things you can do to help your child through it. This post covers what parents need to know, plus practical tips!

Strep infections can be serious, but often they are not. In most cases, they are easily treated once the diagnosis is made.

Medicine is always evolving. I have no qualms about using these medications in my children when indicated. My advice to you is this: moderation is everything. Use these medications, only when needed, for a minimum length of time. Everything is a balance of risks and benefits.

Have you ever been told that green mucus or green snot means you have a bacterial infection and need antibiotics? This is a common misconception. Yes, mucus color can be a helpful piece of information. But it is not a diagnostic piece of information - it is just one piece of a puzzle.

Why does a cough linger after an upper respiratory infection? Here are some of the possible causes, their signs and symptoms and when you should go back to the pediatrician.

Increasing the body’s core temperature makes the body’s immune response more effective. Although the fever is not a cause for alarm, it is still true that whatever infection or process is causing the fever could be concerning, so we don’t ignore fevers.

Kids with croup sound like they swallowed a seal. Croup is the name given to the cough caused by a narrowing upper airway. In many cases, this is caused by infection, but there are many other possible causes as well. The tell-tale barky cough and stridor are a result of air passing through the narrowed upper airway (larynx, trachea).

Mostly, pinkeye simply needs time and not antibiotic treatment. But there is a lot of confusion among healthcare providers, schools and daycares about return to school guidelines when it comes to conjunctivitis.

I know coughs can be frustrating. But I promise you, your pediatrician isn’t holding out on you with some magical home remedy that they want to keep to themselves.

Hopefully these remedies help, but otherwise the best thing for most coughs is tincture of time.

Respiratory season means coughing. Many different viruses cause it, but cough can also be from non-infectious causes.