No one has a crystal ball. But here are my predictions for whether this respiratory season will be as bad as last year.

Cold after cold, fever after fever. Non stop, without any real break for a parent to recover. It feels endless, and its easy to worry about whether or not things will always be this way.

We are at the start of respiratory season, but are seeing have unseasonably high numbers of RSV, Rhinovirus, and many other respiratory viruses - and in many parts of the country, flu season has also begun.

A fever is a normal body response to infection. If your child is handling it well, most of the time you can keep take a holistic approach and focus on closely monitoring them (barring a few specific situations, such as when your child is very young or has underlying medical conditions).

Fever is a normal body response to infection or inflammation. Increasing core temperature makes it easier to kill off invading pathogens (bacteria, viruses, etc). Children are more likely to develop fever than adults when they encounter the same illness.

Stomach flu or gastroenteritis is an incredibly frustrating illness to deal with. It is super contagious. It can cause major and dramatic symptoms immediately, but for some children it can cause ongoing lingering symptoms for a few weeks after.

Oral rehydration can be a good approach for mild symptoms but it is important to discuss with your pediatrician to determine at what point you need to step up the level of care.