10/26/22 news article
Dayton Children’s seeing exceptionally high numbers of respiratory illnesses
New visitor restrictions at hospital; long wait times are possible in emergency departments, urgent cares and Kids Express locations

Dayton Children's Hospital is experiencing exceptionally high numbers of families coming to the hospital's emergency departments, urgent cares and Kids Express locations, due to an increase in RSV and other respiratory viruses.
Because of this influx, Dayton Children’s is advising parents of the following:
visitor restrictions
Children younger than 12 will no longer be permitted to visit inpatients. This is a standard procedure during periods of high transmission of respiratory illnesses and happens every year during the fall/winter months.
potential long waits in emergency departments, urgent cares and Kids Express locations
Monday, October 24, the hospital saw more than 300 patients at its main campus emergency department, a nearly 50% increase from this time last year. The south campus emergency department saw a 100% increase in patient visits over the same day last year.
This large number of children seeking care means there may be a long wait time to be seen. Everyone seeking emergency treatment at the emergency department will be seen. Urgent cares and Kids Express locations may stop accepting walk-in patients when they reach capacity for the day. We ask that families be patient and kind as our staff work to ensure each child has the care they need.
choose the right type of care for your situation
If your child is sick, please contact their pediatrician first, even if it is after office hours. They can help direct you to the best care for your child's condition.
"With all of the respiratory illnesses going around some of the things a parent can do to provide comfort care is to give Motrin or Tylenol for fever or discomfort, use nasal saline spray and suction for little ones that like to breathe out of their nose and to use a warm shower or humidifier if they have a barky sounding cough, "said Lisa Ziemnik, MD, division chief of Dayton Children’s Kids Express and urgent care. "For any child that has a persistent high fever after Tylenol, is breathing fast for a long period of time, or is struggling to breathe they should be seen by a medical provider. Above all look at the behavior of your child. If they are playful, active, and eating and drinking well, even on Tylenol, then they are doing okay. If they are not acting like themselves or their behavior has you concerned, bring them in to be seen."
If your child is in a situation that is not an emergency, please seek care at an alternative location to allow quicker care for those with emergent needs.
Consider a video visit with Kids Express if your child’s symptoms are mild or moderate.
urgent care
- Springboro: 3333 West Tech Road, Miamisburg, OH 45342 | Get directions and save your spot
- Huber Heights: 8501 Old Troy Pike, Dayton, OH 45424 | Get directions and save your spot
Kids Express
- Mason: 8809 Wilkens Boulevard, Mason | Get directions and save your spot
- West Chester: 7787 Cox Lane, West Chester | Get directions and save your spot
- Beavercreek: 3301 Dayton-Xenia Road, Suite 200, Beavercreek | Get directions and save your spot
- Springboro: 662 North Main Street, Springboro | Get directions and save your spot
Please check the website for updates for each of our locations.
flu and COVID vaccines
Dayton Children's is also encouraging families to use this time to get their child's flu shot and COVID-19 vaccine series before Halloween. Kids Express can provide the flu vaccine for age 6 months and up and the COVID vaccine for age 5 and up. For kids age 5 and up, the flu vaccine and COVID vaccine can also be given at the same time. Learn more