“The peak of the infection season is usually in December. Compared to the same period last year, the number of infections is now twice as high,” says pediatrician Lissy de Ridder, chairman of the Dutch Association for Pediatrics (NVK).
Both the children’s wards and the children’s ICUs are packed. Planned interventions are already being canceled to make room. Children are also transferred to other hospitals because there are no beds available. Sometimes even to another province. “It’s still just working, but it’s a tight squeeze. It’s all hands on deck.” There are no transfers abroad yet.
On the website of the RIVM shows a graph how the RS virus behaves annually. The early increase in the number of RS cases is clearly visible.
The RS virus is common in the Netherlands, usually in the winter months. Almost all children under the age of two come into contact with the virus at some point.
Fever and shortness of breath
The most common complaints are a runny nose and coughing. But the virus can also cause fever, shortness of breath or even pneumonia. A small proportion of young children require hospitalization. Every year, about 150 to 200 babies end up in intensive care due to the virus.
Last summer, the European medicines watchdog EMA issued a positive recommendation to use a vaccine against the RS virus for pregnant women. The vaccine then offers newborn babies protection for up to six months after birth. The Health Council will consider this early next year. Only if the government adopts the advice can the first pregnant women be vaccinated.
2023-11-18 14:41:59
#virus #peaks #early #hospitals #full #babies #young #children
