Increase in pediatric bronchiolitis cases complicates emergencies in some communities

this increased hospitalizations for bronchiolitis in childrenAssociated with Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and quadrupling in children under the age of four, highlighting hospital emergencies from various regions, including Community of Madrid350 reinforcements had to rent toilets.

Catalonia, Castile-La Mancha, Madrid or the Community of Valencia report an increase in cases of bronchiolitis, especially in the zero to four-year-olds, while the government in Andalusia sees the situation under control for the time being, emphasizing that the hospital system is “ready to participate in whatever comes”.

The reason for this increase is seasonality and low temperaturesat the same time lack of circulation of the virus in these two years due to the use of masks causing lower natural immunity.

At the national level, the presence of RSV-related bronchiolitis in Primary Care has increased rapidly, according to data from the Carlos III Institute of Health’s Epidemiological Surveillance Network. 945.7 cases per hundred thousand Residents in the zero to 14-year-olds group are followed by the five to 14-year-olds, which recorded 195 cases per 100,000.

This recovery is more pronounced in the zero to 4 year range. 79.4 cases per 100,000 peopleWhile a month ago the incidence rate in this age group was 19.5 cases per 100,000, peaks will be reached in the coming weeks, as the regional health services predict.

Community of Madrid, “saturated or borderline”

The emergencies of several Madrid hospitals such as Niño Jesús, La Paz, Gregorio Marañón, Infanta Sofia and Ramón y Cajal have been going on for days saturated or borderline due to increased cases RSV bronchiolitis in the pediatric population as condemned by unions.

They explain that in hospitals like Niño Jesús, emergencies have been “saturated” since Thursday with a complex situation where staff don’t know where to place patients, and they don’t know where to place the patient and have to look for alternatives within the hospital premises to treat the patient. to serve them.

This situation occurs With the strike of family doctors and Primary Care PediatriciansThis increase in cases led the society’s president, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, to request that hospitals be canceled because they could “get enough”.

To deal with the increase in cases, your government has decided to allow the recruitment of approximately 350 additional health professionals in public hospitals.

Virus ‘no ceasefire’ in Catalonia

Bronchiolitis continues to rise above the very high epidemic threshold, especially among children under one year old. does not cease pediatric servicesto hospitals with ongoing stress.

According to data from the Catalan infection monitoring system, the rate has increased from 15 to 20 affected per 100,000 people, exceeding the “very high epidemic threshold” and continues to increase very markedly among children under one year old. From 1,465 to 1,921 patients in a week per 100,000 people. The global figure for children under the age of four is “very high”, rising from 350 to 477 affected per 100,000.

Castilla-La Mancha with “sufficient capacity” in hospitals

Your hospitals are now Sufficient capacity to cope with the increase in cases children under 14 years of age who have registered in the last ten days, i.e. No plans to rent spare toilets nor increase the number of beds.

Ministry of Health sources confirmed that emergencies are noticing more influx of people affected by this respiratory infection, rising “60% more” in some health centers, but they ruled that out “for now”. To combat this wave, it is necessary to implement a contingency plan.

“No collapse” in the Valencian Community

Cases of bronchiolitis have also increased compared to pre-pandemic, mainly due to the drop in temperatures last week, but according to his government, “in the classic epidemic wave” Y does not mean collapse some in hospitals where 94 young children are currently admitted for this reason.

The virus was two or three weeks ahead of normal, with 84.7 cases per 100,000 children aged zero to four.

Andalusia’s situation “controlled”

Andalusian Health Service (SAS) says status is “perfectly controlled” and stresses that the public health system is “ready to participate in whatever comes its way.”

SAS chief executive Luis Martínez asked the public to be “very calm” as there were “adequate pediatricians and necessary health resources” in the community, while also stating that levels were still “below”. The situation of the whole country and other communities could not be reached.

Basque Country ‘ready for growth’

The Basque Government has assured that Osakidetza is ready to face the rise of bronchiolitis, which it considers normal after the coronavirus pandemic and during the cold months. While more “vulnerable” children are expected this year, similar to pre-pandemic times, denies that emergencies or intensive care units are under stress.

The Ministry of Health said in a statement that the increase in bronchiolitis cases is widespread every year and that “influenza surveillance is being closely watched as it turns into respiratory infection surveillance” this winter.

Murcia opens new revenue units

Ministry of Health of the Region of Murcia opened two units with a total of 40 hospital beds given the increase in the number of cases of pathologies of the respiratory tract, especially bronchiolitis.

Currently, hospitals in the Region are accepting 25 underage children for this infection. Of that total, 14 occurred this Tuesday at the Virgen de la Arrixaca University Clinical Hospital in Murcia. Due to the increasing incidence of respiratory pathologies, Salud has embarked on the first phase of the Emergency Plan with the opening of two new units.