Background

Updated national guidance1 was issued in October 2023 based on the lessons learnt during COVID-19 in 2020 for the management of children in hospital with viral respiratory tract infections. This includes the application of isolation, segregation, mask wearing and testing for respiratory viruses in the emergency acute unscheduled care pathway. This should ensure that services are maintained, and transmission of respiratory viruses is reduced within the hospital settings.

Updates include

Hierarchy of controls: online supplemental appendix 1.

Definition of aerosol generating procedures (AGPs): online supplemental appendix 2.

Detailed explanation of how to minimise transmission of respiratory viruses: online supplemental appendix 3.

Principles on room ventilation: online supplemental appendix 4.

Children at highest risk of severe infection: online supplemental appendix 5.

Removal of indications and contraindications for high flow nasal cannula oxygen: online supplemental appendix 6.

Treatment of non-hospitalised children at risk of severe disease: online supplemental appendix 7.

Guidance about children presenting with suspected measles.

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp001.pdf]

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp002.pdf]

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp003.pdf]

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp004.pdf]

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp005.pdf]

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp006.pdf]

Supplemental material

[edpract-2024-326993supp007.pdf]

Information about the current guideline

Aim: Update recommendations on the management of children in hospital with viral respiratory tract infections are for clinicians to support planning in partnership with local infection prevention control (IPC) teams.

Publication date: 20th Sept 2020

Updated: 24th October 2023

Modified 21st March 2024

Key Stakeholders: Clinicians in the emergency department (ED), paediatric intensive care unit (PICU), high dependency unit (HDU), paediatric wards and acute care settings that see patients with respiratory viruses along with parents and carers.