The pressure is considerable on emergencies, pediatric in particular, with repercussions on intensive care units, which are also overwhelmed.
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At the Montreal Children’s Hospital, 4 new patients arrive every day in intensive care, but the 22 available beds are occupied.
Children are often very young, very sick and suffer from respiratory viruses, including the new respiratory syncytial virus.
“You see that he is no longer able to breathe, that he is coughing, coughing, coughing. You see him working a lot on his lungs, his little belly which really pushes back a lot. It’s panicking, ”worries Émilie Audet, mother of little Sasha, suffering from respiratory syncytial virus.
The father of the child, also present at his side, does not hide his torment.
“You tell yourself that they are doing the best they can, but at some point, the distress is so strong that you can’t wait to see the improvement. When we are told that we are going to intensive care, there is a real danger, then he really needs help, ”he says.
The situation is critical, since the intensive care team has no more beds available.
“We are short of beds in the hospital. For respiratory support, for additional oxygen and to go to intensive care … we are overwhelmed, ”explains Dr. Christos Karatzios, infectious disease specialist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital.
The pandemic, once again, would be in question.
“These viruses are not something new. But it’s skyrocketing this year. During the confinement, we had the chance to stop the transmission of the flu and other respiratory viruses. COVID is more contagious, harder to control. Now, with the deconfinement, the stopping of the wearing of the mask, we have a wave which is skyrocketing for all the viruses, ”explains Dr Karatzios.