Clinics and hospitals in Bogotá are on alert before the epidemiological peak for acute respiratory diseases (ARI), which this year, according to the Ministry of Health, is “strong”.
The increase in cases led the entire public and private health system of the city to adopt measures to face the first considerable increase of the year, even after the waves of covid-19, a virus that is also on the rise in the city.
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ARIs, according to the Ministry of Health, are a group of diseases that occur in the respiratory system and are caused by different microorganisms, such as viruses and bacteria, which begin suddenly and last less than two weeks.
These affect children under 5 years of age and adults over 60 years of age. However, according to doctor Luis Jorge Hernández, health specialist at the Universidad de los Andes, the peak of acute respiratory infection is particularly in children under 5 years of age, due to viruses such as adenovirus, respiratory syncytial and influenza.
Hernández points out that it is an epidemiological peak of prolonged respiratory infection due to the winter season, which has been especially intense and prolonged. “Another thing is that we are collecting the lack of health care for chronic (diseases) in the pandemic. Both children and adults spent almost 2 years without adequate medical check-ups due to quarantines, that is taking its toll.”
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Las measures adopted by the Ministry of Health and clinics and hospitals seek, mainly, to increase the availability of beds, both in pediatric intensive care units (ICU) and hospitalization, also in pediatrics. In fact, the idea is that this attention expands to hotels. The objective of these measures is to decongest health services, which are currently in high demand.
“We have taken up the regulation of intensive care units again, we had never completely abandoned them, but we are going to assume it in a rigid way at this time, all ICUs, and intermediate care units also, in pediatric matters, they are leaving to be regulated from the Crue of the District Health Secretariat, and boys and girls will be able to be referred to critical respiratory care, regardless of the insurance model that the family or the critical patient have,” said Alejandro Gómez, Secretary of Health .
Private pediatric ICUs have an occupancy rate of 92.2%, and public ones, 74.4%, according to figures from the Saludata website, as of May 26.
Adult ICUs have an occupancy rate of 69.4% in private institutions and 77.5% in the public health network.
As of the second week of May, 18,587 cases of severe acute respiratory infection were reported in children under 5 years of age (16,851 in general hospitalization and 1,736 in the ICU). In 2021 there were 6,401, in 2020 there were 12,191 and in 2019 there were 18,298.
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Another decision is that all clinics and hospitals must optimize waiting times, the taking and delivery of results that allow the diagnosis of patients, as well as eestablish triage care areas separate from emergency services for boys and girls with respiratory conditions.
To these decisions, the public health doctor Luis Jorge Hernández adds that “key messages” must also be delivered to citizens: one, how to keep the child healthy at home; two, how to manage the flu at home, and three, what are the warning signs to be aware of.
The district entity also recommends citizens to have the vaccination schedule up to date in children under 5 years of age and in the most vulnerable population, and recalled that there are 242 points in the city.
According to the Saludata page, in the last week there were 1,431 active cases of covid-19, 45% compared to the last week of April, according to the Ministry of Health.
It also suggests maintaining self-care measures, such as washing your hands with soap and water every 3 hours or when they are dirty, and wearing a mask, preferably a surgical one, in health institutions, geriatric and gerontological homes, public transportation, mass transit stations, terminals. Of transport.
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But in addition to the viruses that cause ARIs, the new coronavirus also continues to circulate in Bogotá. Figures from the Saludata page indicate that in the last week of May there were 1,431 active cases, for an increase, according to the Ministry of Health, of 45% compared to the last week of April. The towns with the most active cases are Usaquén, Suba and Chapinero.
“There is also an increase in the circulation of the covid 19 virus, which is becoming flu-like, that is, manifesting itself with respiratory symptoms,” Hernandez warns. This increase in cases is concentrated in the population between 30 and 49 years of age.
The district entity reiterated that it continues to monitor the behavior of the covid virus and maintains daily active search actions with the taking of samples at strategic points in the city.
Measures to prevent respiratory infections
• Keep the permanent vaccination schedule up to date for children under 5 years of age and the most vulnerable population.
• Vaccinate against influenza girls and boys from 6 to 23 months of age, people over 60 years of age, pregnant women from the 14th week of pregnancy and people with chronic conditions.
• Wash your hands with soap and water every 3 hours or when they are visibly dirty.
• Ventilate all spaces and increase the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces and elements of constant contact.
• Use of face masks in case of respiratory symptoms.
When to go to the doctor?
1. If the child has symptoms such as persistent or difficult-to-control fever, weakness, faster-than-normal breathing, sounds in the chest, sinking of the ribs when breathing, or rejection of feeding.
2. In the case of minors with low weight, malnutrition, premature condition, heart, respiratory or nervous system diseases, they have a higher risk of getting sick and worsening due to an acute respiratory infection. It is recommended to reinforce prevention measures and take them to medical check-ups.
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