In Kanagawa Prefecture, which became the target area of the state of emergency from the 2nd due to the rapid spread of the new coronavirus infection, the infection is rapidly increasing among the generations of small children and parents with children, and it is a crisis in the field of pediatric medical care. The feeling is spreading.
"St. Marianna University School of Medicine" in Kawasaki City is one of the few hospitals that accepts children infected with the new corona. Of the 60 beds in the pediatric ward, the rooms are divided and thorough infection control measures are taken. 12 beds are reserved for corona patients.
At the hospital, nurses in protective clothing used to kidnap their children to change diapers and give them milk.
So far, children have rarely become severely ill and their beds are not full, but the number of infections among parents in their 20s and 40s is increasing rapidly, and as a result, children at home We are becoming more vigilant that the number of cases of infection will increase.
When parents are hospitalized, their children need to be accepted at the hospital, even if their symptoms are mild.
In addition, there is an epidemic of "RS virus infection" that can become severe when babies under 6 months of age are infected, and a sense of crisis is spreading in the field of pediatric medicine.
Dr. Tomohiro Katsuta of the pediatrics department said, "There are only a limited number of hospitals that accept children's corona patients even if they are mild. Most children are infected by adults, and in order to protect them, we want adults to try to prevent infection." I was talking.
Rapid increase in infections among children and parents
In Kanagawa Prefecture, the number of infections among children and parents is increasing rapidly from the end of June to last month.
Infections under teens and teens totaled more than 200 people during the week from June 27th to the 3rd of last month, but increased more than five times to 1141 people during the week of the 25th of last month.
In addition, the number of parents in their 20s to 40s increased from 885 in the week of June 27 to 4,483 in the week of last month, which is about five times higher.
Difficulty in dealing with children
It is said that dealing with children infected with the new corona has different difficulties than adults.
One is the high risk of infection for healthcare workers.
According to St. Marianna University School of Medicine, small children cannot wear masks and often cannot eat alone, so nurses hold them in their arms to give milk and assist with meals. There will be more opportunities.
They may also be interested in and touch the protective clothing and masks of healthcare professionals and face shields.
The second is mental care.
Since the spread of the new corona, the pediatric ward has closed the playroom, which was a playground for children who cannot go out, and has canceled seasonal events.
The nurses also entered the corona ward for a limited time, and the children sometimes ringed the nurse call too often because of their loneliness.
At the hospital, we rent out tablet terminals to children so that they can talk with nurses at the nurse station, and decorate the entire ward with illustrations to soften the children's feelings as much as possible.
Sadako Numasato, the chief nurse of the pediatric ward of St. Marianna University School of Medicine, said, "There are many cases where parents are hospitalized and I can't come to visit them, so my children are very lonely. We are preparing the environment so that it can be done. "
There is a vacancy in the corona bed, but there is a tightness in the pediatric medical field
Even if there is a vacancy in the corona bed, tension has already begun in the field of pediatric medicine.
The background is the epidemic of "RS virus infection," which can become severe when babies under 6 months of age are infected.
Even at St. Marianna University School of Medicine, the beds other than Corona are almost full, and it is necessary to have children with respiratory syncytial virus accepted at other hospitals in order to devote more manpower to dealing with corona. Yes, but it means that the recipients are already running out of room.
Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital is in charge of accepting other patients because the pediatrics department of St. Marianna University School of Medicine is reducing the number of general beds to accommodate corona.
Nearly 90% of the 29 pediatric beds have been used since last month, and about half of them are patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection. Was there.
Dr. Yusaku Miyamoto, director of the pediatrics department at Kawasaki Municipal Tama Hospital, said, "Infectious diseases in children can suddenly worsen, and there is no need to worry if there are many vacant beds. As the number of people infected with Corona increases, there is concern that the children who normally accept them will not be able to receive adequate medical care. "