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Latin American children now face a triple threat from respiratory viruses; The syncytial virus seriously attacks babies a few days after birth, so experts advocate taking extreme preventative measures and avoiding cramming the little ones together.
Experts have called the phenomenon a “tripleemia” of respiratory syncytial virus, Covid-19 and seasonal flu, which has led to an increase in hospitalizations for minors several times this year and even a saturation of hospital services or a spike of high declines . number of falls. The first two years of the Covid-19 pandemic, with educational centers closed in the Latin American region, forced parents to keep children at home and limit their social interactions.
WITHOUT DEFENSE. While this measure was intended to protect minors and their families, it also meant that children would not be exposed to other viruses and develop their own defenses.
This is leading to an increase in the number of children susceptible to the syncytial virus, Lydiana Ávila, a pediatric pulmonologist at Costa Rica’s National Children’s Hospital, told EFE.
“The syncytial virus is a virus that affects children under 2 years of age who are menstruating in all countries where it circulates. By age 4, 90% of the pediatric population already has antibodies to the syncytial virus and will acquire them within the first few years if they become infected or if mothers pass the antibodies to their baby in the womb or through breastfeeding. , Avila explained.
The expert explained that 5 out of 100 children infected with the syncytial virus are usually hospitalized.
“However, we have seen something unusual this year and we will collect data retroactively as there are more susceptible individuals who do not have the disease in 2020 and 2021,” Ávila said.
Last November, Carissa Etienne, director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), warned of the “triple threat” of respiratory viruses in the region, stressing the importance of preventive measures and vaccination.
According to official data, in 2019, more than 100,000 children under the age of five died worldwide from respiratory infections due to this virus, 97% of them in low- and middle-income countries.
PREVENTION. Parents can respond to the triple illness affecting the Latin American region by continuing preventive measures against Covid-19.
Martha Herrera, director of the Colombian foundation Fiquires, explained the importance of preventive measures and awareness of the risk of children becoming seriously ill with respiratory syncytial virus a few months after birth.
“Mothers should always wash their hands and avoid visits until newborn or premature babies are 6 months old, in addition to using face masks to protect the little ones.” Herrera noted that children under the age of 5 experience severe breathing difficulties even when admitted to intensive care units across the region.
Herrera urged Latin American governments to unite to support high-impact campaigns, such as the campaign against the syncytial virus Covid-19.
In 2019, 100,000 children worldwide died from respiratory diseases related to the syncytial virus.
Source: Ultimahora
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Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
