Infectiology and vaccinology

Prof Dr Ulrich Heininger, Head of the Department of Infectious Diseases and Co-Head of Ward A at UKBB, comments.

Your child is hospitalised at UKBB due to a respiratory infection. It may have a cough, fever and problems breathing or feeding is difficult.

As a rule, you and your child will not be accommodated in a single room. Many parents are worried that their child could catch an infection from a neighbouring patient and become ill for longer or more seriously. It is highly likely that your child has a viral infection, as practically all respiratory infections that lead to hospitalisation in (usually very young) children are caused by viruses. The neighbouring patient is also very likely to have a respiratory infection.

There are countless viruses that can cause respiratory infections. We can detect the most common ones by analysing nasal secretions. In more than half of all cases, we find one or more viruses in the analysed secretions. However, if no viruses are found, this does not change the situation; the child still has a respiratory infection caused by a virus.

Does the neighbouring patient have an infection with the same virus?
This may be the case (especially if a certain virus is currently causing an epidemic), but it does not have to be. The duty of confidentiality prohibits us from telling you this specifically.

What does it mean for us and our child if the neighbouring patient is infected with a different virus to our child?
That doesn't change the situation.

Can my child catch an infection from the other child and become ill for longer or more seriously as a result?
This is very unlikely for the following reasons:

1. Viruses that cause respiratory infections are transmitted by droplets. These are produced by coughing, sneezing or speaking and can contain the viruses. However, even when sneezing, the droplets do not fly further than 1 to 2 metres and then fall to the ground. The viruses are therefore mainly transmitted via the hands, or if you are coughed or sneezed on directly. To prevent transmission, UKBB staff who touch your child or come into close proximity to them wear protective clothing and face masks. then disinfects the hands. You should also do this every time before you leave the room. In this way, we are very certain to prevent the transmission of viruses from child to child.
2. Even if the virus were to be transmitted, this would have no consequences for your child:

• In around 70 per cent of all children with a respiratory viral infection, we find one type of virus in the secretions, around 10 to 15 per cent of children already have two types of virus from the start, and in a few it is even three or more. Important: Children who are infected with more than one virus are not sicker or sicker for longer than those who are infected with only one type of virus.
• Due to the existing viral infection, your child's immune system produces a substance called interferon. The interferon protects your child from further viral infections as long as it fights the existing viruses.