Jasmine Bazán
08/22/2021 4:46 PM
Clarín.com
Society
Updated 08/22/2021 4:46 PM
"Pediatricians are going to remember 2020 as
the year in which
we saw practically no cases of bronchiolitis
(or infection of the bronchioles): with simple measures such as hand washing, social distancing and the use of a chinstrap - and not so much for the isolation- the cases could be lowered, "says the infectologist and pediatrician Rubén Sosa.
The doctor affirms that, currently, "
the coronavirus is not growing
, because there is a pool of antibodies in the biomass that prevents it from spreading."
This is largely due to the advancement in vaccination.
However, during the last two months, many children have been admitted to
Febrile Emergency Units (UFU)
for compatible symptoms, to discover that they have
another type of respiratory virus
.
These pictures are typical of this time of year, although
their appearance was relatively late
and the numbers are still below pre-pandemic times.
Several parents with children with symptoms compatible with Covid attend the UFU, but many swabs are negative.
Photo Luciano Thieberger.
Clarín
spoke with specialists about these conditions, what is experienced in the rooms and therapies, and why it is important to go to medical centers.
The situation in children's hospitals
Eduardo López
is an infectologist, pediatrician, presidential advisor and head of the Clinical division of the Ricardo Gutiérrez Children's Hospital: one of the most renowned institutions in Buenos Aires in the field of pediatrics, along with the Garrahan Hospital and the Pedro de Elizalde Children's General Hospital. (or "Casa Cuna").
The expert says that, as
the cases of Covid decrease among children
and in the population as a whole, care for respiratory infections such as respiratory syncytial virus - the most frequent and causative agent of
bronchiolitis
- and metapneumovirus or rhinovirus - much less frequently -
has been increasing
.
According to López, the number of pediatric beds occupied in the Autonomous City of Buenos Aires by respiratory viruses that are not coronavirus is
still very low
.
Although "we must be vigilant because, as the Covid decreases its intensity, it is possible that they will experience
relative growth
."
This time the cases of respiratory viruses appeared after the winter holidays.
Photo Guillermo Rodríguez Adami
"There is no outbreak," he
clarifies.
In this sense, he suggests that, historically, during the current months, there are usually many more patients hospitalized for this cause.
And he adds that, as respiratory infections are stationary,
"when spring comes, their incidence decreases
.
"
"These viruses were overshadowed by Covid. Normally, when there is a pandemic, the other viruses decrease drastically, as happened in 2009, with Influenza A. Last year,
95%
of the isolated respiratory viruses were Covid", he summarizes.
López explains that the respiratory syncytial virus has a greater impact on young children, who are less affected by other diseases, such as the flu.
In any case, he points out that although boys and girls of preschool and school age do not usually develop serious influenza symptoms - unless they have comorbidities - "they are the
community reservoir of this virus
."
That is, they
can take it home
.
This is another reason why they should go to health centers.
Influenza and the importance of vaccination
Ángela Gentile, a pediatric infectologist, epidemiologist and head of the Epidemiology Department at the Ricardo Gutiérrez Children's Hospital, agrees.
"The cases of Covid in children decreased drastically. Now we have one or two hospitalized patients. These are little ones under one year, who require a certain look, but we have almost no new admissions.
It is a reflection of what happens in the community
", He says.
It also checks larger cases and hospitalizations, particularly among the smallest, for
pictures of bronchiolitis and respiratory syncytial virus (or, in the case of immunocompromised children, due to other viruses).
But they would not reach worrying figures.
Some cases of bronchiolitis can lead to hospitalizations.
Photo David Fernández
"I do not think that we will face an outbreak as happened, for example,
in 2019.
Obviously, the respiratory syncytial virus is competing with other viruses and we must see, in the
ecological competition
, what happens," he develops.
Today, says the doctor, most of the care has to do with the
usual pediatric complexity
.
And, in his experience -although the scenarios are always dynamic-, therapy rooms
They are prepared.
"We are concerned about the
lack of controls
that there have been,
boys who arrive with chronic diseases and have lost the possibility of being quickly reviewed to establish treatments.
We see pictures that are presented with
late diagnoses
", he indicates, regarding the impact that pediatrics suffered between 2020 and this year.
Specialists recommend vaccinating children against influenza.
"
Influenza has not yet begun to circulate
. It is important that children are vaccinated against this immunopreventable disease. It must be remembered that the
flu vaccine
is available free of charge for all children with underlying diseases, under two years of age and pregnant women," he underlines .
To the community, Gentile recommends
early consultation and never self-medicate.
Tips to "get through the winter"
"Most
viruses
circulate
stationary
. Some, due to their form of contagion, are more present in the winter. Others, such as diarrhea, proliferate in summer," warns Analía De Cristófano, infectious disease physician and pediatrician, head of Infectology Pediatric at the Italian Hospital.
"All the prevention measures for the Covid caused other respiratory viruses to circulate much less, although there was an increase in the last two months. Currently we serve more those related to
contact transmission
(such as respiratory syncytial virus and rhinovirus). Influenza , like last year, there is not yet, "confirms the specialist, member of the Infections Committee and coordinator of the Pediatric Commission of the Argentine Society of Infectious Diseases (SADI).
Like his colleagues, he maintains that there is no lack of place in therapies.
"Some boy we always receive, mainly due to respiratory syncytial virus, whose complications for the minor population
may be greater than those of Covid
. But we do not detect excesses, nor significant statistics in terms of cases, or bed occupancy, including all respiratory diseases (Covid or not) ", he details.
De Cristófano says that after the winter holidays, cases usually drop.
In this regard, he expresses: "Perhaps this year
the circulation started a little later
, but there would be no more than a month left."
The specialist highlights that, although
viral co-infections
exist
, few combinations of Covid with other respiratory viruses are registered in minors.
In turn, studies show that this circumstance does not tend to affect prognosis or symptoms.
The relaxation of sanitary measures and the increase in social gatherings undoubtedly influenced the spread of different respiratory infections: particularly, bronchiolitis.
De Cristófano does not believe that school is necessarily a source of contagion and understands that it is very important that minors attend.
For this, it concludes that the continuation of the
vaccination
campaigns is essential
, as well as the monitoring of
basic prevention measures
: use of chinstraps, adequate ventilation, social distance, personal hygiene and of the establishments.
MG
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