WORCESTER, Mass. - Local health experts are warning about the possibility of a 'tridemic,' with cases of COVID-19, the flu and RSV all rising at the same time.

Respiratory Syncytial Virus causes a cold in adults, but can cause a deep lung infection in younger children. The younger a patient is, the worse the virus can be. It's the leading cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1.

Dr. Robert Klugman at UMass Memorial Health said while RSV is typically more severe in children, it can easily be spread to older age groups.

"You can give it to grandpa and grandma and mom and dad," Klugman said. "Grandpa and grandma are typically the greatest risk, or anyone who has any immune issues that would make them greater risk can get RSV as well."

Klugman said it's common to see the virus spread among family members in the same household.