WASHINGTON — A so-called triple-demic of flu, COVID and RSV is impacting children. Lately, there is a new concern: Medicine is out of stock.
Many parents are finding empty shelf after empty shelf as they try to pick up medicine for their children. Even Amazon says "currently unavailable" for some kids' medication.
Kaiser Permanente pediatrician Dr. Christina Brown says one of the big problems they are seeing is prolonged fevers lasting five to seven days. But when looking for a fever reducer, those meds are out of stock.
Dr. Gabrina Dixon, a pediatrician at Children's National Hospital says kids can often fight fevers on their own.
“One thing I tell parents having a fever in itself is not harmful. Fever is just the way the body reacts to a virus or other infections. So I'll always say how does a kid look with the fever? If the kid is playful, interactive, still drinking, still eating looks great with the fever -- you actually do not need to give medication for that fever,” Dixon said.
But what about when your child doesn't look great and really needs medication?
"You can use different medications that they may have in stock. Different antibiotics that maybe aren't as great, but can work for some people," Dr. Brown said.
For now, both doctors say go back to the basics. Wash your hands and stay home if you're sick.