Status: 06.09.2021 8:13 p.m.
Children and adolescents are currently becoming increasingly infected with virus-related respiratory diseases. The head of the pediatric and adolescent medicine clinic at the UKSH in Kiel pointed this out.
In the past year, many children and young people hardly got sick – thanks to masks, contact restrictions and extreme hygiene measures. Now living conditions are becoming more normal again and with that the viruses are apparently also coming back. According to Professor Martin Schrappe, head of the Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Clinic at Kiel University Hospital, some young people are currently diagnosed with RSV infection – a virus with flu-like symptoms. “So far, the numbers are still low. Nevertheless: They are now as high as usual in December. And that alone must be a bit alarming,” said Schrappe.
Immune system needs to be trained
Due to the shortage of staff, the clinics could become tight in autumn or winter, Schrappe said. They can treat 35 children as inpatients at the University Hospital in Kiel. But due to the nursing emergency, there have only been 20 for months. The head of the clinic fears that they might need all beds due to a stronger cold and flu wave and that less urgent treatments may have to be postponed. Nevertheless, the head of the children’s clinic is no friend of the permanent mask requirement for children. Because simple infections are important to train the immune system.
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