Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and cold cases have been numerous and quick to emerge this season, resulting in many absentees.
According to the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases (NFID), RSV cases spread across the U.S. earlier than in past years. In a Nov. 1 article, the NFID reported that children of various ages have been affected by this surge, putting a strain on schools nationwide. Carlmont is seeing the same spike in illness and, consequently, absences.
According to the NFID’s article, many factors have contributed to this phenomenon.
After spending nearly two years hiding behind masks and staying indoors to prevent the spread of COVID-19, students have not been exposed to illnesses that they used to be familiar with, like RSV, colds, and the flu, according to Carlmont’s school nurse, Erika Quintana.
“Since we have been masking, our immune response is low, so dis
ease is widespread,” Quintana said.
Kathryn Gopz, a Kaiser pediatrician, noted another factor contributing to the spread of illness.
“What’s happening is that a lot of younger kids are catching all these viruses, and then it ends up spreading to their older siblings or their parents,” Gopz said.
According to Gopz, the optional mask policy, which is observed at Carlmont, is another contributing factor.
“If we still had mandatory masking, we probably wouldn’t see such a surge in all our cold and flu viruses that we’re seeing here,” Gopz said.
However, this can also be a benefit because people can build up more immunity with more exposure over time.
“Eventually, we will build up more immunity against all of these regular cold viruses that are going around, and hopefully, in the next year or two, we’ll be back to our normal level of holdings and viruses,” Gopz said.
Carlmont students report many other ways to fight these illnesses and maintain strong immunity.
Kara Cruz Monje, a sophomore, explained what helps her whenever she is sick.
“I recommend drinking a lot of water and tea,” Monje said.
To treat the coughs that come along with these illnesses, Gopz recommends using honey as a treatment.
“The stickiness helps to coat the throat so that it’s not as itchy and scratchy,” Gopz said.
To prevent the further spread of illness around Carlmont, students should ensure they are in good health before attending school, according to Quintana.
“The most important thing is to stay home if you are sick. That helps keep diseases from spreading,” Quintana said.
