Typical patients in the pediatric intensive care center (ICU) of the Helen Devos Children’s S -HOSPITAL are infants fighting the respiratory virus (RSV).
It is a heartbreaking scene. The baby for various levels of breathing support machines keeps the caregiver and parents comfortably and waits for the disease.
But this year was not common.
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RSV is still a threat, but COREWELL HELLTH’s Grand Rapids Children ‘S HOSPITAL has an influence of one of the worst influenza seasons of Michigan for more than 10 years.
Children are sick. More people have a common infection and need more breathing.
“It is not the number of patients. Dr. Elizabeth Rosner of Children’s Hospital ICU said. “The number of respiratory patients is much higher this year. We have seen a lot of things. ”
As a mother of two, Rosner sometimes comforts himself with the concept that most pediatric flu patients in the ICU have basic conditions. Nevertheless, this idea brings less comfort in 2025.
“This year, even other healthy children seem to be being hit.
As of March 1, Michigan reported six pediatric flu deaths, including two Kent County. Before catching the flu, at least a small number of children had no known basic conditions.
Nationwide, there were 114 pediatric deaths in the flu season. Officials estimated more than 40 million total flu infections, resulting in more than 520,000 hospitalization and 22,000 deaths since October.
Dr. Erica Michiels, the medical officer of Helen Devos Children’s Contrict Department, said, “The Greater Grand Rapids area is now bombed by influenza.
“Whenever there are many people in the community influenced by the virus, we will start seeing unexpected terrible results.”
Children’s hospitals generally see about 145 patients a day in the emergency room. The flu season tends to surpass 200 patients in recent weeks.
Most of the flu symptoms that doctors see include high spike heat, shortness of breath, cough, congestion and dehydration.
Children who demand important treatment were older than usual between 5 and 17 years old. In addition to the flu, viruses such as RSV and Covid-19 are fighting bacteria such as group A Streptococcus (Strep).
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Rosner said, “It usually starts with one virus. “If the immune system falls, if the lungs are already hit by one virus, the other virus may come in and damage more.”
In February, the rate of health care for the disease similar to the flu exceeded 10%in Michigan. Disease Control and Prevention Center (CDC) 13th -tiered flu was enough to make the top priority.
The interest rate decreased for two consecutive weeks and fell to 7.1%. The hospital hopes the main flu season to reach its peak, but we will not yet leave the guard.
Influenza is generally striked early and most of the hospitals have seen this year. Influenza B tends to stop spring vacation, but Michiels says it’s not sure if it’s a busy or gentle season with the latter virus.
“This virus passes through the school, passes through childcare, and is very infectious,” she said. “It’s hard to get sick at this time.”
This season, there were fewer people who had the flu, which had a small number of people in a year. The state reported that 586,736 shots were 586,736 shots from the 2019-2020 flu season.
The vaccine does not prevent the flu infection, but health experts say they reduce the possibility of serious diseases. As a result, Rosner tracks what’s viewed by Grand Rapids Pediatric ICU.
“People who do not receive the flu vaccine in general, the patients we are looking at are over in the ICU,” she said. “They are more sick and need more support from other mechanisms. We also tend to see more common infections in patients without flu vaccines. ”
Health officials continue to say that it is not too late to fit the flu. At the end of the season, Rosner said that the guns in March or April could be helpful for the flu season next year.
Expert panels, advising federal regulatory agencies on vaccine policies, will meet on Thursday, March 13 and discuss the transformation scheduled for the flu next year.
But their meeting was canceled and questioned the national timeline to choose and produce the flu vaccine next year.
Rosner said, “Next year, we will urge everyone to get it now because there is still protection of the flu. “What if there is no option next year?”
The flu, corona virus and RSV vaccines can be purchased in the local health department, doctor office and pharmacy throughout Michigan. You can offer all three shots together.
visit Vaccine Find a vaccine provider in the area. Please visit more details Michigan.gov/covidflursv.
