Intermountain doctors are again urging Utahns to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as hospitals are at or near capacity to deal with high levels of respiratory illnesses. (Kristin Murphy, Deseret News)
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SALT LAKE CITY — Doctors are again urging Utahns to get their flu and COVID-19 vaccines as hospitals are at or near capacity to deal with high levels of respiratory illness.
Dr. Per Gesteland, a pediatric hospitalist at Primary Children’s Hospital and University of Utah Health, said that over the past few weeks, communities in Utah have been hit hard by RSV (respiratory syncytial virus). and influenza and, to a lesser extent, other illnesses. such as COVID-19, seasonal coronavirus and strep throat.
“The surge was so significant that it strained our health care delivery system,” he said.
Gesteland said it is even worse in children’s facilities, including the Primary Children’s Hospital, which has been at full capacity for several weeks. The hospital has postponed about 50 elective procedures in each of the past three weeks.
Although Gesteland said it appears the RSV outbreak has peaked, it is still bringing patients to hospitals and keeping doctors busy. The flu, however, is now reaching the highest levels of last year, although it is not expected to peak until January or February.
Gesteland said he hopes after learning about the situation that people are motivated to help prevent the spread of the disease to themselves and their loved ones.
Dr Tamara Sheffield, medical director of preventive medicine at Intermountain Healthcare, said doctors were seeing the same problems in adults, with record cases of influenza, COVID-19 and RSV. She said the increase in these three respiratory diseases this year has been called a blizzard.
“We are really seeing an extraordinary amount of infections circulating within the community. And it’s not just putting a strain on the healthcare system, but also the medicines we use,” Sheffield said.
She said monoclonal antibody therapies don’t work on the current strain of COVID-19, which means the antivirals they use are in short supply. Sheffield said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance on how to prioritize antivirals used against influenza. Flu treatment for children has become hard to come by, she said, adding that some doctors are taking adult drugs and reformulating them for use in children.
Due to the limitations of treatment options, Sheffield pointed out that the best strategy is prevention — flu vaccinations, the bivalent COVID-19 vaccine, masks, staying home when sick, washing hands and covering coughs.
“(These are) things that we know are great ways to prevent the spread of respiratory disease. They are working and should be working for us right now,” Sheffield said.
She said it’s never too late to get the flu shot. She urged people to get vaccinated today, to allow a week or two before the holidays for the vaccine to become effective.
Current flu numbers are the highest the United States has seen in the past 10 years, Sheffield said, adding that the increase is likely due to lower levels in recent years and a lower exposure to disease. She said vaccines help teach immune systems how to protect themselves and fight the spread of disease.
Gesteland said supply chain issues and demand are also to blame for the lawsuit limitations of common pediatric medications, including fever medications, as well as antibiotics. Although people have been posting information online about how to alter adult medications for children, he said he suggests seeking advice from a pediatrician or pharmacist, checking with neighbors who may have resell and treat children with honey, humidifiers or smaller doses of Tylenol. or Advil instead of adult cold medicine.
He said RSV starts with cold symptoms, a runny nose and sore throat, but can lead to a more persistent cough, inflammation and pneumonia-like symptoms. If cold symptoms turn into difficulty breathing, Gesteland said, it’s time to see a doctor.
Sheffield said the flu is different because it usually has a very rapid onset, instead of starting with a cold. She added that antivirals for influenza and COVID-19 are most effective if used within the first 48 hours when symptoms exist. Shortness of breath and a deep, dry cough can mean a person has COVID-19; Sheffield said in this case it may also be good to get tested and get medicine quickly.