A headache for pediatricians, but also for parents is tsimultaneous appearance of 4-5 respiratory viruses in childrenwhich last winter was an unprecedented phenomenon, but this year it is finally happening again.

“After the pandemic, many viruses, such as coronavirus, influenza, RSV, adenoviruses, enteroviruses and bacteria such as streptococcus and pneumococcus, have appeared simultaneously. What we see is the child gets one germ, gets well, then gets another germ. Also, there may be two or even three different microbes in his body at the same time, so the diagnosis becomes difficult for the pediatrician, because the symptoms of these viruses are similar”, said the treasurer of the Panhellenic Federation of Independent Pediatricians, Spyros Mazanis.

The statistics that are given to the public are not the real ones, not because this is done intentionally, but because these are the data recorded from the population that takes the test, says Mr. Mazanis.

“So what I can empirically tell you is happening right now, is that there are too many cases of coronavirus in children. I have even watched a 28-day-old baby who was hospitalized because he got attached to his grandmother. Also, there are many cases in children fluand RSV.

In practice, it seems that they have a harder time with the flu, while babies who are months old are more susceptible to RSV. Because this virus causes breathing difficulties and due to their age they must enter the hospital and stay for many days. Unfortunately, it is a virus that does not have a stable course that peaks, then subsides and the child is fine, but it can at any time cause complications and even require hospitalization in the ICU.”

As far as he is concerned streptococcus Mr. Mazanis says that needs immediate treatment, as within the first 24 or 36 hours antibiotics must be started to cure the child and not threaten his life. “And here is the message we send to parents: They should not wait a few days for the fever to go down. They should immediately give him antipyretics and contact the pediatrician. It is very bad practice for parents to say that the child will have a fever for two or three days and then if it doesn’t go down, I will take him to the pediatrician. This is completely wrong, but also dangerous, because fever is only a symptom. What lies beneath, how the child will deal with it, depending on the age, weight, and state of the immune system, the parent cannot predict.”

The diagnosis over the phone is dangerous for the child’s life

Diagnosis over the phone should not be done, emphasizes the treasurer of the Panhellenic Federation of Independent Pediatricians. “We have recently seen delays in communication with the doctor and these children’s lives have been threatened or there has even been a poor outcome in some cases.”

Many cases of covid and flu in maternity wards

What image is there in maternity hospitals? How dangerous is the vertical transmission of covid or flu for infants, Mr. Mazanis is asked: “We have the same picture as we had last year. So there is a lot of covid, but now the flu has been added. Many have both. And unfortunately both are quite dangerous for newborns. If a newborn gets sick from coronavirus or flu, due to the immaturity of his immune system, his life may even be at risk. At the same time, problems arise in the maternity wards, because the mothers have to be isolated, but so do the babies. And clearly it is an image that reminds us of other times”. Regarding the waiting times in the outpatient clinics of the pediatric hospitals, Mr. Mazanis states that they continue and are from 3-5 hours, while it is very difficult to find a bed when a child needs admission, “because a child to be admitted will he must be matched in the room with another child who will have the corresponding condition, so as not to catch something else.