Recently, many parents have noticed an increase in the number of children around them who have been "tricked", with symptoms such as high fever, cough, hoarseness... Are these symptoms caused by the flu or other viruses? The latest data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention provides the answer. The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention has released the national sentinel surveillance of acute respiratory infectious diseases for the 15th week of 2026. The positive rate of parainfluenza virus testing has been increasing for four consecutive weeks, and the case group under 5 years old is higher than other age groups. The reporter learned that human parainfluenza virus (HPIV) belongs to the family Paramyxoviridae and is divided into four serotypes. Among them, parainfluenza type 3 has the highest infection rate and the strongest pathogenicity, and is one of the main culprits causing lower respiratory tract infections in infants and young children. Parainfluenza virus, like most respiratory viruses, can cause symptoms such as fever and cough. Tian Man, Director of the Respiratory Department at Nanjing Children's Hospital, reminds that the parainfluenza virus infection that causes acute pharyngitis can lead to a special type of cough - a "dog barking like" cough. The child may have a severe cough resembling the barking of a small dog, accompanied by hoarseness, throat sounds, and difficulty breathing. It should be noted that unlike influenza, there is no vaccine or specific antiviral drug for the parainfluenza virus. Tian Man pointed out that "current anti influenza drugs have no therapeutic effect on infections caused by parainfluenza virus, rhinovirus, syncytial virus, etc., and antibiotics should not be blindly used for treatment." Tian Man introduced that the current treatment mainly focuses on symptomatic support. Mild illness patients can be cared for at home. When the body temperature exceeds 38.5 ℃, antipyretics should be taken according to the dosage, while drinking plenty of water and not sweating; When wheezing is severe, follow the doctor's advice for nebulization treatment. She specifically reminds that the following danger signals should be sought medical attention immediately: progressive hoarseness of voice, worsening of barking like cough, difficulty inhaling, depression of the sternum, rapid breathing, restlessness, mental exhaustion, lips turning blue and purple, persistent high fever lasting for more than 3 days, difficulty swallowing water, worsening of nighttime shortness of breath, inability to lie down and sleep, etc. (Looking into the New Era)