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

Strep infections can be serious, but often they are not. In most cases, they are easily treated once the diagnosis is made.

Increasing the body’s core temperature makes the body’s immune response more effective. Although the fever is not a cause for alarm, it is still true that whatever infection or process is causing the fever could be concerning, so we don’t ignore fevers.

Kids with croup sound like they swallowed a seal. Croup is the name given to the cough caused by a narrowing upper airway. In many cases, this is caused by infection, but there are many other possible causes as well. The tell-tale barky cough and stridor are a result of air passing through the narrowed upper airway (larynx, trachea).

Immunization is the most effective way to mitigate the severity of flu infection, but there are many misconceptions about the flu vaccine.

Influenza is a viral infection that can be caused by different strains of Influenza virus. Although most people recover without incident, similar to COVID-19, certain groups are higher risk for severe illness (and even death): the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and young children (under age 5y - and especially those under 2y).

Elderberries come from Sambucus trees. Various parts of the plant have been used for centuries in cooking and herbal remedies for a variety of ailments, and it is still used in Europe in cooking. I wouldn’t use this in my kids, though.