Children should return to wearing face masks, authorities advise

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Published on Thursday, September 21, 2023
By the A.M. Costa Rica staff

Due to a recent spike in cases of children sick with respiratory viruses, the Ministry of Health issued a health alert.

Currently, adenovirus, coronavirus, human metapneumo virus, parainfluenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), rhinovirus, and influenza A virus subtype H1N1 are the most frequent respiratory viruses.

Authorities urge parents and guardians to keep their children home from school if they are sick and to wear facemasks on sick days. This advice is voluntary, they said.

According to Social Security, the Children's Hospital receives more than 300 patients daily. In addition, more than 100 children are hospitalized as a result of respiratory disorders. The majority of hospitalized youngsters are under the age of five.

As of Wednesday, 29 children had died this year as a result of respiratory viruses. According to Carlos Jiménez, director of the National Children's Hospital, this amount represents six more cases compared to 2022.

Specialists recommend people to avoid the spread of respiratory viruses by:

Daily frequent hand cleaning.

Using disposable tissues.

Avoiding crowded areas if the youngster is sick.

Meeting the vaccination schedule fulfillment.

Practicing social distance between youngsters and sick people.

Immediately take your child with cold symptoms to the doctor.

In addition, Social Security announced a backup plan that includes extra hospital beds to care for infected youngsters.

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What other precautions should parents take to protect their children from respiratory infections? We would like to know your thoughts on this story. Send your comments to news@amcostarica.com