Confronted with a “multidemia” of respiratory infections even before the peak of the flu season arrives, doctors are urging parents to vaccinate their toddlers once morest the flu now to avoid hospitalizations.
As a flood of young patients continue to flow into the emergency rooms of the CHU Sainte-Justine and the Montreal Hospital, doctors fear that Quebec will be faced with the same scenario as the one that has just hit Australia.
In this part of the world, the flu season — which begins several months earlier than in Quebec — ended this year with a record number of children admitted to hospital. The latter, who accounted for 55% of influenza-related hospitalizations, represented the age group least vaccinated once morest this virus in the population.
In Quebec, very few young children are vaccinated once morest the flu, says Dr. John Yaremko, a pediatrician associated with the Montreal Children’s Hospital, where cases of influenza begin to emerge at the same time as secondary pneumonia linked to a cocktail of respiratory viruses.
Right now it’s already difficult. We have 22 hospitalized children for a capacity of 19 beds. This situation affects preschool children and infants. If the flu is added to this, it can be very dangerous.
“Right now, it’s already difficult. We have 22 hospitalized children for a capacity of 19 beds. This situation affects preschool children and infants. If the flu is added to that, it can be very dangerous,” he says.
On Tuesday, the emergency room at the Montreal Children’s Hospital (HME) had an occupancy rate of 183%, with 22 children on stretchers, and that of the CHU Sainte-Justine at 156%, with 25 children on stretchers.
While the number of young patients admitted due to COVID is stable (approximately two per week at MCH), the majority of current hospitalizations are due to complications from respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and other viruses that children in their preschoolers have been less exposed since the start of the pandemic.
“Most hospitalizations are due to RSV, but we see that the cases of influenza are climbing rapidly,” adds Dr. Yaremko.
There is no vaccine once morest RSV, which can cause difficulty breathing, bronchiolitis, and sometimes even respiratory distress in severe infections in infants and toddlers. With an effectiveness rate varying between 50 and 75%, the vaccine once morest influenza can prevent complications for children, insists this doctor.
“We are anticipating a difficult winter and an early flu season, combined with RSV and COVID. From the outset, even with an imperfect vaccine, we recommend that parents protect their children once morest influenza while there is still time,” adds Dr. Yaremko.
Or, le Quebec Influenza Immunization Program (PIIQ), which once covered healthy children 6 months to 23 months, has just changed the target populations for the flu vaccine. However, it is still possible to obtain the vaccine free of charge for parents of children under two years of age who request it, says the pediatrician.
“Everywhere else, in Canada and the United States, the target population for this vaccine includes children under 5 years old. In Australia, children between the ages of 2 and 4 were the most hospitalized during the flu season. In the current situation, I believe it makes sense for parents to vaccinate all their children. »
Unravel the viruses
It can be difficult for parents to know what enemy they are dealing with when their children suddenly look bad. Apart from COVID, diagnosed using a rapid test, and the flu, marked by high fever and general apathy, parents should remember that RSV is first distinguished by breathing difficulties and an audible wheeze when exhalation, says Dr. Yaremko. RSV is sometimes distinguished by a “pulling” sign, identifiable on inspiration by the retraction of the skin under the ribs, or the tension in the neck.
At the time Ontario has just recommended the return to wearing a mask, this pediatrician believes that it should be the same in Quebec, given the overload that pediatric hospitals are already experiencing, also observed elsewhere in Canada and in the States. -United.
“Under 5 years old, wearing a mask is difficult. But in the context we live in, I think everyone in contact with little ones should wear it, if only to protect their children. We have a very short window before the peak of influenza to vaccinate children at risk. »
