Although RSV-related hospitalization rates remain high in Winnipeg, pediatric intensive care unit populations are declining, which may restore surgical capacity.
The Children’s Hospital had eight pediatric ICU patients as of Thursday morning, compared with 17 in the first week of January. The standard baseline capacity is 9, according to his RSV weekly report published by Shared Health.
There were also 40 neonatal ICU patients, down from 45 in the first week of the month.
Shared Health also said it will continue to postpone some surgeries for the time being to divert resources to hospitalized young children, but that could change if pediatric ICU admissions continue to decline. have a nature
Pediatric surgical capacity was performing between 80% and 90% of normal levels last week, with three cancellations Shared Health attributed to patient illness.
Although pediatric ICU admissions in particular have improved, in general, the number of young children hospitalized with RSV symptoms continues to increase.
Between 7 and 13 January, 25 infants, infants and neonates were hospitalized, 6 of whom required ICU care. This compares to her 18 hospitalizations in the first week of January.
A total of 23 pediatric patients were hospitalized in October, 78 in November and 119 in December.
Manitoba has been hit hard by RSV this winter after a recent pandemic-related hiatus.
According to Shared Health, hospitalizations for RSV have been low during the past two winters, with one case reported in 2020-21 and 42 cases reported in 2021-22.
Since the beginning of October 2022, 261 patients, including 41, have been hospitalized with RSV-related symptoms in the first two weeks of January. During his entire four-month RSV-related winter season in 2019-20, there were relatively few hospitalizations, 176.
Children’s Hospital emergency department patient numbers have so far averaged 118 patients per day in January, compared to 130 in December.
Of the 108 people who visited a pediatric ER this Wednesday, almost a quarter (25) had flu or flu-like symptoms.
“This is a significant drop from just a few weeks ago when it was hovering around 50%,” Shared Health said.
Young children under the age of 2 are most at risk of contracting RSV.
Minimizing exposure between symptomatic and non-symptomatic children, wearing masks in public gatherings, washing hands and cleaning high-touch areas are all ways parents can help keep children safe. Here are all the steps you can take.
Vaccination against influenza A and B is also highly recommended, according to Shared Health.
Flu and COVID-19 vaccination locations are available on the state website.
