Triple threat of respiratory viruses attacks children in Latin America

Children latin american They currently face a triple threat of respiratory viruses, of which the syncytial virus is strongly attacking babies a few days old, for which reason experts urge extreme preventive measures and avoid exposing minors to crowds.

Experts have called the phenomenon a “tripledemia” made up of the respiratory syncytial virusthe covid-19 and the seasonal fluwhich is causing an increase in hospitalizations of minors and has even caused at some point this year the saturation of hospital services in several or high peaks of cases.

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The first two years of the covid-19 pandemic, in which educational centers in the Latin American region were closed, forced parents to keep children at home and limit their social interaction.

They did not develop defenses

This measure, although it is true that its purpose was to protect minors and their families, also meant that children were not exposed to other viruses and did not develop their respective defenses.

A health worker inoculates a school student with a dose of ‘Corbevax’ vaccine during a vaccination campaign for children in the 12-14 age group, in Bangalore on May 9, 2022. (Photo by Manjunath Kiran / AFP) (MANJUNATH KIRAN /)

The pediatric pulmonologist at the National Children’s Hospital of Costa Rica, Lydiana Ávila, told EFE that this situation has caused the number of children susceptible to syncytial virus to be greater.

”The syncytial virus is a virus that in all countries has periods in which it circulates and affects children under 2 years of age. At 4 years of age, 90% of the pediatric population already has antibodies against syncytial virus, which they acquire in their first years when they are infected or when the mother passes the antibodies to the babies in the womb or through breastfeedingAvila explained.

The specialist explained that out of 100 children who get sick from syncytial virus, there are 5 who are generally admitted to a hospital.

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”However, this year we have seen something atypical and we are going to take the data retrospectively because there is a greater number of susceptibles who did not get sick in 2020 and 2021″ Avila commented.

Last November the director of the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), Carissa Etienne, warned about the “triple threat” of respiratory viruses in the region and insisted on the importance of preventive measures and vaccination.

More than 100,000 children under the age of five died in 2019 from respiratory infections associated with this virus worldwide, 97% in low- or middle-income countries, according to official data.

Prevention and treatment

The tripledemia that affects the Latin American region can be faced by parents by resuming the preventive measures that were applied against covid-19.

The director of the Fiquires Foundation of Colombia, Martha Herrera, explained to EFE the importance of preventive measures and for the population to be aware of the risk that children a few months after birth run of developing a serious illness due to respiratory syncytial virus. .

A health worker inoculates a school student with a dose of ‘Corbevax’ vaccine during a vaccination campaign for children in the 12-14 age group, in Bangalore on May 9, 2022. (Photo by Manjunath Kiran / AFP) (MANJUNATH KIRAN /)

”Maternals must wash their hands at all times and also that where there are newborn or premature children, avoid visits until the children are 6 months old and the constant use of masks for the protection of minors”, he asserted.

Herrera commented that children under 5 years of age are suffering aggressive respiratory difficulties, even with admissions to intensive care units throughout the region.

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Promote high impact campaigns

Herrera called on the governments of Latin America to unite to promote high-impact campaigns such as those carried out against covid-19, in relation to the syncytial virus.

Regarding treatment, the pulmonologist Ávila said that there is no cure or vaccine against respiratory syncytial virus, but there is a monoclonal antibody treatment to protect infants, although its application depends on the health policies of each country.

The monoclonal antibody nirsevimab (Beyfortus, AstraZeneca) is the only antibody approved by the US FDA to help protect high-risk infants against the virus.

Source: Elcomercio