California sees increase in RSV, a respiratory illness that can be dangerous for babies, adults and older children. According to the California Department of Public Health, there were 834 hospitalizations for RSV at hospitals statewide in March.
The number of hospitalizations for RSV in California was up 31 percent compared to the same time in 2016. Over the same period, children under three months old accounted for 23 percent of all hospitalizations for RSV. There were 3,934 RSV hospitalizations for children under age 3, about double the number from 2016. The number of hospitalizations for RSV in children age 3 to 5 was up 14 percent, the majority in four- to five-year-olds. The number of hospitalizations for children 6 to 7 year old was up 11 percent. There was a 10 percent rise in hospitalizations for children age 8 to 12 years old.
According to the California Department of Public Health, there were 4,566 influenza hospitalizations statewide in March. The number of hospitalizations for the flu was up 8 percent compared to the same time in 2016.
California children in elementary school had the highest rate of influenza hospitalization during the previous flu season – 17.5 percent. The lowest rate occurred in the 6th percentile (1.2 percent). For children in preschool or first grade, this rate was 9.8 percent. For children in middle school the rate was 6.4 percent. The rate in high school was 5 percent.
California children had the third highest rate of influenza hospitalization in 2016. For children in elementary school, this rate was 11.6 percent. For children in preschool or first grade, this rate was 8.9 percent. For children in middle school this rate was 5.7 percent. For children in high school, the rate was 3.8 percent.
Among children aged 12 to 19 years old in California, the rates highest and lowest were 2.4 percent and 0.9 percent, respectively.
The number of hospitalizations for tuberculosis in California increased by 6 percent in March compared to the same time in 2016. One hospitalization occurred for tuberculosis in February. The number of hospitalizations for tuberculosis was up 4 percent for children aged 0 to 5 years old. The number of hospitalizations increased by 4 percent among children 6 to 11 years of age. In children