The start of the fifth wave of corona in Israel puts a strain on children's hospitals even before the omicron mutations are discussed.
Every child who comes with Corona requires hospitalization in the Corona ward and organizing of the staff, including organizing also for the accommodation of one of the child's accompanying parents.
>> The frightening scenario of the hospitals: 340 children in critical condition with Corona <<
That is, the very recurrence of the virus is a great addition to the burden on children’s hospitals.
In other words, a child who has other illnesses or is just injured but he also came with Corona, had to be in the Corona ward for all the operation involved and all the load on the staffs and special clothing.
This, without talking at all about the damage the virus does anyway.
This thing is even more true now.
We are at the height of the outbreak of seasonal winter illnesses, ie influenza viruses and the like, which are now at their peak.
We already have a 30% increase in requests for children's emergency rooms, and already today the emergency rooms for children all over the country are occupied by more than one hundred percent due to seasonal winter illnesses.
In any case, it is quite clear what will happen in these departments if, in addition to the winter viruses, they will also be filled with children with corona - the load will be really huge.
On this reality, which is already difficult on its own, it should be noted that preliminary reports from South Africa, the US and the UK show - or rather, suggest - that the omicron is contagious and produces more significant morbidity in children. See how much this information turns the omicron into a new childhood disease.
But it is important to emphasize this right now, because if in the previous wave the rate of hospitalization was at least one child or more than 200 sick children, then an outbreak of a more contagious virus will inevitably lead to children eventually reaching the emergency rooms and hospitals - so there is Fearing a much greater burden that will bring hospitals in Israel to a very challenging threshold of dealing with the corona virus and its effect on children.
It is quite clear that we are prepared, and also well done by the Ministry of Health that it has issued an instruction to the major hospitals in the country to reopen the corona wards for children, but the public should be aware of this.
I would like to point out that I have personally vaccinated my children a long time ago and I call on all parents not to hesitate and vaccinate their children now.
A vaccine prevents a serious illness and really saves people and there is nothing to hesitate about in this regard.
The author is the director of Safra Children's Hospital and the director of the intensive care unit at Sheba Hospital
Brings the things: Assaf Golan
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