NOS/Jeroen van Eijndhoven
ANNOUNCEMENTS••Edited
Children’s hospitals in the Netherlands have their hands full with young patients infected with the RS virus. from RIVM data shows that there is a spike in the number of infections and that it is reflected in the intensive care units for children.
Still, there’s no reason to panic, says Job van Woensel, head of IC at UMC’s Emma Children’s Hospital in Amsterdam. It is in close contact with the other academic hospitals in the Netherlands with a pediatric IC. “We see the number of infections is quite high, but we can handle it.”
The RS virus usually emerges in the winter months, mainly in December and January. That’s why there’s an increase in the number of infections now, says Van Woensel business as usual. The difference lies in the last two years, when the peak of infections has moved to summer due to the coronavirus crisis.
“Blockades in winter made it more difficult for children to infect each other, but as a result they also accumulated fewer antibodies,” explains the pediatrician. “When during the summer society reopened, children were more likely to infect each other again.”
The Association of Nurses and Carers (V&VN) yesterday raised the alarm due to full children’s hospitals. Van Woensel acknowledges that RIVM reports many infections and hospital admissions, but he says he doesn’t fear a shortage of hospital beds. “That doesn’t change the fact that there is a shortage of nurses in pediatric intensive care units and therefore they have a difficult time maintaining capacity, but babies are not going to die because there is no room.”
Consultation between hospitals
This afternoon, the seven academic hospitals that have ICs for children will discuss whether measures are needed. The lines between those hospitals are short, Van Woensel says. “We consult very regularly. Sometimes we have to get creative and create places, for example by carrying out a planned operation a week later so that an extra bed remains free. Of course we only do this if the child’s situation allows it.”
The pediatrician points out that the vast majority of children experience an RS virus infection without any problems. Only when the infection reaches the lower respiratory tract of the chest can it lead to more severe symptoms. “The child may become stuffy and breathless, have coughing fits and fever. That’s when you can call the doctor. Even very young babies as young as a few weeks old can stop breathing. This is also a reason to call the doctor or go to the hospital.”
