In Prague, the number of children with so-called RS viruses is increasing, some hospitals are at capacity
Update: 12/16/2022 11:34 AM
Issued by: 16/12/2022, 11:34
Prague – There is an increase in the number of hospitalized young children in Prague hospitals, including infants a few weeks old. The main transverse increase is the so-called RS viruses, approaching epidemics are common before the start of the regular season, but this year is stronger than usual, according to doctors. Some hospitals are at capacity, their representatives said when asked by ČTK.
According to Jana Tejnická, head of the Pediatric Clinic of the 2nd Faculty of Medicine of the Charles University and Motol University Hospital, about 20 children are in the clinic there with various viruses that cause inflammation of the respiratory tract. Most often they are around two years old.
“Children who are short of breath need oxygen therapy, inhalations, suctioning of mucus and the like. If there is no bacterial infection, we do not administer antibiotics. The length of hospitalization is usually around seven days,” ČTK reported. The clinic has 90 beds, of which 30 are for intensive care.
At the Pediatric Clinic of the 1st Faculty of Medicine and the Faculty Thomayer Hospital in Prague-Krč, according to the head, Lucie Gonsorčíková, patients with RS viruses make up the majority, and hospitals protect their high increase. Currently, the clinic is at capacity.
“The problem is not a lack of drugs, but a possible lack of free drugs for children who require hospitalization and the provision of sufficient equipment,” said ČTK.
“The RS virus can cause so-called bronchiolitis, or inflammation of the small bronchi with the risk of rapid development of respiratory distress. The people most at risk are young infants, but a serious course can also occur in an older child,” explained Gonsorčíková. According to her, pulmonary ventilation is also necessary in the most serious cases.
According to spokeswoman Eva Libigerová, Bulovka University Hospital is also at the limit of bed capacity for children. “On some days, we reach the limit when our bed capacity is exhausted and we have to look for a bed for the children elsewhere,” she told ČTK. The infectious disease clinic partially helps, or the hospital transfers children to other facilities where there is still time available.
According to spokeswoman Tereza Romanová, the Královské Vinohrady University Hospital has enough beds and medicines. “At our clinic for children and adolescents, we have also recorded attacks caused by the MS virus, including those with a more severe course. However, at the moment we are managing the situation and have enough beds and medicines,” ČTK reported.
With the epidemic of the respiratory syncytial virus (RS virus – RSV) according to information Other European countries are also struggling with the state health institute. It is the cause of lower respiratory tract infections. “RSV infections are not uncommon at this time of year, but RSV activity is higher this year and started earlier than in pre-Covid-19 seasons,” he said. It is most common in children under the age of five, but it can also threaten another 65 years.
Typical symptoms in children are a mild fever, cough, runny nose, breathing difficulties and sleep apnea in infants. The smallest children can also have problems with breastfeeding and feeding due to a blocked nose and greater strain on breathing, thus there is a risk of dehydration and lethargy requiring hospitalization. In most cases, however, the disease has a mild course that children manage at home.