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The number of cases of
affected children has
increased to the point
that there is a need to
reinforce the emergency
services. / A.M.
Costa Rica wire services
photo.
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Five
children have died from
respiratory viruses this
year, confirm specialists
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff
According to the Children's
Hospital authorities, five
children have died this year
because of the respiratory
viruses such as syncytial virus
and influenza.
According to the report of the
hospital's Intensive Care Unit,
the number of cases of affected
children has increased to the
point that there is a need to
reinforce the emergency
services.
According to Carlos Jiménez
Herrera, a physician and
director of the hospital, the
number of severe cases that are
arriving in the emergency room
forced staffers to apply the
following procedures:
- Mild and moderate cases are
being moved to other Social
Security clinics.
- The personnel that staffs the
emergency room in the hospital
were reinforced.
- A call has been made to the
population to increase measures
to prevent the spread of these
respiratory viruses.
Jiménez said the situation is
worrisome since the Intensive
Care Unit is at the peak of its
capacity and the emergency
service doubled its capacity to
maintain patients requiring
mechanical ventilation.
The specialists called on the
population to take measures
capable of reducing the
transmission of those viruses.
Among the recommendations raised
are:
- Wash hands to reduce the
transmission of diseases
transmitted by contact.
- Keep the home very clean
because the viruses can remain
in the surfaces.
- Protect the nose and mouth.
When coughing or sneezing cover
with a handkerchief and in case
you do not have this garment
handy, do it with the forearm or
upper arm, so that this action
is not done with the hand to
avoid contaminating others.
- Have the vaccine records up to
date and remember that there is
protection through vaccination
for different age groups.
Children under the age of 6,
older adults and at-risk groups
should be vaccinated against
influenza. Social security
provides this vaccine through
July 22.
- Do not allow visits to your
home if any member of the family
is sick.
- If you or a family member is
sick with a respiratory virus,
avoid gatherings such as
churches, parties, cinemas and
even schools.
- Do not expose yourself to
sudden temperature changes,
especially so for children and
the elderly.
- Maintaining a varied and
natural diet, reducing sugars,
fats, and carbohydrates in
general.
- Maintain hydration, preferably
with water.
- If you are a patient of
chronic disease such as
diabetes, hypertension, asthma,
heart disease among others, do
not abandon medications and
follow instructions.
- Continue feeding babies breast
milk. There are thousands of
scientific evidence that
demonstrate the benefits of
breastfeeding to protect your
baby by the number of natural
antibodies.
- Do not smoke.
According to Social Security
statistics, in the country,
respiratory viruses affect
almost 1.4 million people each
year.
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What other recommendation would
you give to avoid the spread of
respiratory viruses?
We
would like to know your thoughts
on this story. Send your
comments to news@amcostarica.com
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