He bronchiolitis flare that Argentina has been experiencing for a few weeks caused long delays in public and private pediatric hospitals throughout the country. According to estimates by the Ministries of Health of the City of Buenos Aires and the Province of Buenos Aires, consultations for respiratory diseases increased between 20% and 30% compared to previous pandemic levels.
Bronchiolitis is a acute respiratory infection which occurs more frequently in the autumn-winter months and affects mainly children under one year of age. It can be caused by different viruses; the most common is the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), which also causes respiratory infections that can be serious in older adults, such as pneumonia.
The Ministry of Health of the Nation warned this week that the peak of bronchiolitis cases anticipated this year. Usually, the strong increase in infections occurs in mid-June throughout the country, but the growth in infections is already evident in May. This situation is reflected in the high occupancy of emergency units and the hospital rooms. As confirmed to Infobae by sources from the Buenos Aires health portfolio, the occupancy of beds is 71%, between neonatology, pediatric intensive care unit and pediatrics (floor).
Given this scenario, the Argentine Society of Pediatrics (SAP) today issued a harsh message detailing the poor conditions in which professionals dedicated to children’s health work.
“Given the delicate epidemiological situation due to the increase in respiratory infections that is affecting children and adolescents, the Argentine Pediatric Society wishes to express its appreciation to the pediatricians who, once again, are carrying out their task with dedication throughout the country, despite the difficult working conditions and the postponement of legitimate claims”, states the text.
The letter from the Argentine pediatricians refers to the current health situation as “a difficult scenario for the professional practice of pediatrics”. And they list the difficulties in carrying out their tasks: “Unacceptable working conditions, high workload, job instability, lack of growth stimulus, situations of violence, low pay, the need to moonlight to make ends meet and lack of opportunities to update in the profession.
The SAP doctors expressed that being part of the health system, particularly in the care sector, “is quite exhausting both in the field of public health like in the private medicine” and they said that this occurs due to multiple factors ranging from the increase in consultations to “the decrease in human resources in the health team, caused by the lack of new appointments, vacant positions that are not covered, temporary contracts, shortages in equipment and infrastructure, lack of time to adequately examine patients”.
In addition, the letter points out that “the State and the entire society, including all the institutions that are part of it, should be concerned about medical professional development, both for their training and for the working conditions to which those who work to care for health are subjected. of all”.
“Protecting the health of children and adolescents by facilitating their access to pediatric care in conditions of equity and quality requires public politics that prioritize professional training and the conditions in which the profession is practiced. We urge the competent authorities to summon a dialogue tablein order to find an answer that considers an adequate solution to this situation of work overload for pediatricians and obstacles to timely care for patients”.
Respiratory syncytial virus affects the small airways (inflammation of the bronchioles), causes varying degrees of difficulty breathing and manifests with agitation, coughing, weakness, difficulty eating or sleeping.
– Rapid breathing, whistling or snoring.
– His chest sinks when he breathes.
– Has persistent fever over 38° and/or runny nose.
– Loss of appetite.
– Cannot drink or breastfeed.
– He is down and looks sick.
As there are no treatments for the virus (there are no syrups or antibiotics), it is essential to control that respiratory compromise does not affect normal oxygenation and ensure that the baby can feed and hydrate well enough, despite respiratory distress, warn the authorities sanitary.
In a statement released on Sunday, the Ministry of Health of the Nation indicated that if the child has a respiratory infection, they should immediately go to a nearest health center. And it is extremely important not to self-medicate. The consumption of non-prescription remedies can cause poisoning and hide the symptoms of the disease, making correct diagnosis difficult and worsening the clinical picture.
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