[The Epoch Times, Tachwedd 16, 2022](Compiled and reported by reporter Chen An) Due to the influx of sick children and the increasing number of critically ill children, the Alberta Children’s Hospital is under tremendous pressure.
The Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH) in Calgary and the Stollery Children’s Hospital (SCH) in Edmonton were overwhelmed with children with infections including influenza, respiratory syncytial virus and the common cold virus, and some cases of COVID-19 (Chinese Communist Virus) .
“Since the end of September, ACH wait times have increased to 17 hours, compared to 16.5 hours at the Stollery,” said Stephen Freedman, professor of pediatrics and emergency medicine at the University of Calgary.
According to Alberta Health Services, there was a 24 per cent increase in the number of children triaged at ACH for emergency, urgent and critical care (in the form of resuscitation) in September compared to the same month in 2021. Hospital saw Children’s Stollery in Edmonton an increase of 5.5 per cent.
Pediatric hospital admissions are also on the rise, according to the AHS.
So far this season, four of the 13 people in intensive care with the flu have been children under the age of nine.
A trend seen in children with RSV, or respiratory syncytial virus. Oxygen levels are very low due to the RSV virus.
A large number of pediatric patients in hospitals are stuck in the emergency room while waiting for a bed on the ward.
Visits to pediatric emergency rooms have increased since September, but it is unclear when the viral surge will peak.
Jim Kellner, professor of pediatrics at the University of Calgary, speculates that long-term public health measures have left a large number of children unexposed to the virus and may be more susceptible to infection. Some viruses can also weaken the body’s immune system.
Doctors are urging parents to take some simple precautions, including vaccinating children against flu and COVID-19.
There are two other key steps families can take. Stay home when you are sick and wear a mask in public, including schools, grocery stores[和]other crowded places.
Editor in charge: Qi Shoushan
