- Doctor Josep Mut, from the Denia Hospital, warns that there is a generation of "bubble children" who have been very protected in the years of the pandemic and have a less "trained" immune system.
- They assure that this year the wave of cases in consultation and admissions to the ward and the ICU “has come forward”, and that the “star virus” is respiratory syncytial, responsible for respiratory infections, especially bronchiolitis, in children under 2 years
pediatricians of Ribera healthcare group They assure that, according to the number of cases treated so far this autumn, they foresee a winter with up to 60% more incidence of respiratory viruses in children. "We are having a considerable increase in consultations compared to previous years, even above the pre-pandemic years, with an increase of around 35-40% in consultations and an increase in admissions to hospitalization floors," explains the doctor Josep Mut, pediatrician of the Hospital de Denia. Of the same opinion, he is the head of the Pediatric Service of the hospital Riverside Juan Cardona, Dr. Jose Ramon Garcia. “This year the incidence of influenza, syncytial viruses, and other respiratory viruses far exceeds our expectations, which were already pessimistic, and the increase may exceed the pre-pandemic years by 60%,” he assures.
In addition, in regions as disparate as the Valencian Community and Galicia, pediatricians assure that the first wave of cases of respiratory viruses in children has been brought forward compared to the years before the pandemic. This is stated by the head of Pediatrics at the Vinalopó University Hospital, Gonzalo Ros: "There is an increase in the number of admissions and emergency care compared to the previous two years, but it seems that it has been a month ahead of other years." And Dr. García agrees with him, who explains that "the early presentation of these infections" has been surprising.
On the causes that have caused this increase in respiratory viruses in children, the pediatricians of the Ribera group also agree, in general terms. The removal of masks, the increase in social activities and relaxation in contacts is added, as they highlight, the "immunological bubble of these two years". Doctor Mut speaks, specifically, of "a generation of bubble children", where he includes those who "due to the experiences of recent years, have been a little more protected than the patients of previous years". “They are children who have lived in an environment in which the mask predominated, we were very strict in hand hygiene and ventilating spaces, which has given them less immune support, and it is probably this group that is suffering the consequences of these respiratory viruses”, adds Dr. Mut. Dr. José Ramón García assures that this group accuses "a lack of immunological memory, a consequence of the pandemic."
Doctor Mut assures that the star virus of these weeks is the respiratory syncytial virus, "which is a virus responsible for respiratory infections, especially bronchiolitis in children under 2 years of age." Regarding the incidence of Covid, the pediatricians consulted explain that, since it is not being searched for as actively as before in children, the incidence is not known. The head of Pediatrics at Vinalopó, Gonzalo Ros, explains that, in general, children under 6 years of age "are the most affected, but the highest incidence in admissions for bronchiolitis are those under 1 year of age."
Common symptoms and tips to avoid viruses
In the cases of respiratory infections, the symptoms “are common”, as explained by Dr. García: cough, fever, mucus, sore throat, respiratory fatigue and, on occasions, vomiting. “Virus infections usually affect several organs at the same time, and for this reason respiratory viruses can affect the digestive system, causing vomiting and/or diarrhea, to which is added the emetic effect (or vomiting) of respiratory secretions in the gastric cavity”, he adds.
The advice given by pediatricians to try to avoid contagion with this type of virus is the same: wash hands frequently, clean children's toys and utensils frequently, do not send children with respiratory symptoms to school, do not frequent spaces or places with mass of people and little ventilation, and consider the use of the mask in cases of mild symptoms. Dr. Mut explains that "the use of masks has been positive in reducing the transmission of these viruses, so that when a patient has cold symptoms or fever, the mask would be advisable."
When to go to the ER
Pediatricians from Ribera coincide in pointing out that a pediatrician should be seen when the child has a high fever of more than 24 hours of evolution, also if it persists for 2-3 days, intense cough, fatigue, repeated vomiting and/or general malaise. "Minor symptoms such as runny nose, intermittent cough, fever, with good general condition and appetite should be treated at homes with good hydration, antipyretics and relative rest," they add.
More Information about bronchiolitis here
