Da Nang: Children hospitalized with flu virus increase, many cases lie in the hallway

(NLDO) - The number of children hospitalized for treatment at the Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine - Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has recently increased, some severe cases require ventilators.

In the past 7-10 days, the number of children hospitalized for respiratory diseases at the Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital has increased dramatically compared to normal. According to Dr. Tran The Tao, Deputy Head of the Respiratory Pediatrics Department, the number of patients has increased compared to normal days.

The main diseases include pharyngitis, bronchitis, bronchiolitis, respiratory viral infections, especially many cases progressing to pneumonia.

The number of children hospitalized with respiratory diseases has increased at the Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital.

"Currently, the number of patients admitted to the department is 30 cases a day, sometimes up to 40-50 cases. The total number of children being treated has exceeded the target, causing the department to be overloaded. Many children when coming to the hospital have high fever, cough, runny nose, rapid breathing, refuse to eat, refuse to breastfeed, have signs of difficulty breathing, and turn purple," said Dr. Tao.

Due to the rapid increase in hospitalizations, the hospital had to add more beds in the hallway. However, the Board of Directors directed the departments to try to ensure the principle of "one patient, one bed" to reduce cross-infection.

Many patients are located in the hallway, next to the pediatric respiratory department for the treatment team to monitor conveniently.

Every day, the Respiratory Pediatrics Department receives 30-50 cases, a high increase compared to the previous period.

Children hospitalized are mainly under 3 years old.

"If we don't have time to arrange beds, we have to arrange beds for the children within a few hours. But in reality, there are cases where they still have to lie temporarily in the hallway because of overload," said Dr. Tao.

Some children, if brought to other floors with beds, will have less monitoring staff, potentially leading to the risk of not being able to monitor closely. Therefore, many cases are placed near the central area of ​​the department so that doctors and nurses can easily observe, especially children on oxygen or at risk of respiratory failure.

Many severe cases require oxygen and intensive care.

According to Dr. Tao, cases of children with difficulty breathing, cyanosis, prolonged refusal to eat, and not responding to initial treatment will be transferred to the intensive care unit. "In the past week, there were several cases that had to be transferred to the intensive care unit due to respiratory failure and severe pneumonia. In the respiratory department, oxygen support is mainly provided, and those on ventilators must be transferred to the intensive care unit," he said.

A child patient was admitted to the hospital on October 19, but the next morning still had to lie in a bed in the hallway.

Doctors say the changing weather causes an increase in respiratory diseases in children.

The bed is placed in the hallway, right next to the hospital room.

Some children arrived late to the hospital, and when they were already having difficulty breathing, doctors were forced to immediately administer oxygen and transfer them to an emergency inpatient unit. Doctors said the reason was that many parents did not monitor their children closely and only took them to the doctor when their condition became serious.

Dr. Tao said that most cases of pneumonia today are caused by viral infections. "There is no specific treatment for viral infections; treatment is mainly supportive, care, and proper nutrition. Only when complications such as pneumonia or respiratory failure occur do we need to use antibiotics and oxygen," he said.

Facilities at Da Nang Maternity and Pediatrics Hospital are seriously degraded.

Children are treated in cramped, damp rooms.

Risk of cross-infection when many children have respiratory diseases

At private facilities, many parents are tested for influenza A, but according to Dr. Tao, this result is only for diagnostic reference and does not affect treatment at the hospital. "Any virus requires care, keeping warm, and balanced nutrition for the body to overcome it on its own," the doctor added.

Doctor Tao advises parents to keep the house clean and dry, avoid mold, do not expose children to cigarette smoke, and limit taking them to crowded places. When children have a high fever, rapid breathing, stop breastfeeding, stop eating, or are exhausted, they must be taken to a medical facility immediately to avoid serious complications.

In addition to the pressure on patients, the facilities of the Da Nang Obstetrics and Pediatrics Hospital are also in the process of being repaired, but they are prolonged and degraded. "The rooms are cramped, moldy, and poorly ventilated. This is a risk of increasing cross-infection, especially when many children have respiratory diseases," said Dr. Tao. The slow repair has caused the treatment space to shrink, while the number of patients has increased rapidly.

However, the doctor confirmed that the hospital does not lack medicine, all medicines for treatment from mild to severe are fully provided. If there is a shortage, it will be replenished within a few hours.

Source: https://nld.com.vn/da-nang-tre-mac-cum-virus-nhap-vien-tang-cao-nhieu-ca-nam-ngoai-hanh-lang-196251020132240938.htm