HSC Children’s Hospital is seeing an increase in children with pneumonia.

According to the hospital, many of these cases are bacterial in origin, with most patients ranging in age from elementary school to young teenagers.

Dr. Karen Gripp, medical director of the emergency department at HSC Children’s Hospital, said an uptick in illnesses is expected each fall.

“What we’re seeing this fall, as we were seeing a few years ago, is that more patients are coming in with true pneumonia documented on a chest X-ray or exam,” she said Tuesday in a interview with CTV Morning Live. .

Gripp said about 20 to 25 percent of those cases require hospitalization, noting that’s usually because the patient needs some oxygen or IV antibiotics.

She added that across North America, hospitals are receiving cases of atypical pneumonia, also known as walking pneumonia.

Gripp explained that walking pneumonia often presents as a virus, making it difficult for the hospital to determine who needs antibiotics.

“It tends to not be as severe, hence the term ‘walking pneumonia,’ you can walk around with it,” she said. “You’re not usually very sick and bedridden. »

Gripp advised parents not to panic.

She said that in most cases, viruses can be treated with supportive care, including drinking fluids and getting plenty of rest.

“Children are getting sick,” she said. “It’s part of the process of being a kid.”

Parents should see a doctor if their child has trouble breathing or has a fever that lasts more than seven days.

• With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagace.