A decrease in cases of respiratory infections has been registered in hospitals and in private consultations in recent days in the capital.
Fernando Aguinaga, a pediatrician and former president of the Ecuadorian Pediatric Society, maintained that there was a peak in the last few months of cold in the Sierra, which caused the appearance of influenza, coronavirus and respiratory syncytial virus.
In a pediatric medical center of which it is a part, between 30 to 40 children with respiratory symptoms are treated daily and influenza and COVID-19 predominate, in all age ranges.
Aguinaga added that there is a downward trend and estimated it at 15% compared to last week.
Fever, cough, sore throat, nasal congestion, are the symptoms that are presenting in respiratory symptoms.
Children from 2 to 5 years old are the most affected by respiratory infections in Quito
Given the proximity of the festivities, he recommended washing hands, if someone is sick to wear a mask, avoid going to places where there are crowds such as shopping centers or churches, not sending classes if there are respiratory infections.
One aspect that Aguinaga highlighted is access to vaccination. For influenza from 6 months and COVID-19 from 3 years.
In case of symptoms, he suggested going for a medical assessment to define the virus and determine if a test or treatment should be done.
At the Baca Ortiz pediatric hospital, in the north of the city, respiratory symptoms have decreased.
According to Greta Muñoz, medical director and infectious disease specialist, last week there were approximately 50 patients a day in emergency consultations and currently there are about 20. There are more cases of influenza than of coronavirus. Between 1 and 5 years are the age ranges.
He attributed it to the fact that the population possibly wears a mask, avoids crowds, social distancing, washes their hands, since an influenza and COVID-19 vaccination campaign is underway.
“It could be a temporary trend, let’s wait and see what happens after Christmas and the end of the year, that somehow the custom makes people gather,” Muñoz added.
Catarrh, sore throat, sensation of joint and muscular discomfort are some of the symptoms.
Long hours of waiting and rescheduling of surgeries are the effects of the increase in respiratory infections in Quito
Unlike previous days, outside the IESS hospital in Carcelén, at the northern end of the city, it was not observed that there is a high presence of parents in pediatric emergencies.
Gabriela Gómez left that health home this Wednesday with her 8-year-old son Emilio, who had been suffering from the flu since yesterday. The symptoms of him fever and cough.
At the hospital they gave him a medicine and the person who attended him told him that it was viral and that it would last seven days, but the medical certificate of rest was only for 48 hours. There was no delay in medical attention.
Because of the flu, Emilio did not go to school because he had a fever and it is preferable that he stay home, his mother argued.
The boy has already been vaccinated against influenza. For that same dose, Esperanza Tapia, 80, went to the Las Casas health center, in the north center of the city.
Despite the rebound in COVID-19 and respiratory illnesses, there are people without masks on public transport and high-traffic commercial sites
She was accompanied by her son, Marco Guerrero, who mentioned that they already had the four doses against the coronavirus and her mother only needed that disease.
“We have seen both in the neighborhood and where we have acquaintances who have been catching the flu (…) they have been seen and with a malaise and many have had to not go to work…”, said Guerrero.
Muñoz argued that it is pertinent, before the December festivities, that citizens attend to be vaccinated and maintain precautionary measures such as that if a person presents respiratory symptoms not to attend family gatherings.
In some higher education institutions, due to the increase in cases of COVID-19 and influenza in students, teaching and administrative staff, it has been decided to go from face-to-face to virtual. (YO)
Source: Eluniverso
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