Consider care options before bringing kids to ER with respiratory issues, B.C. Children's Hospital says
Almost half of ER visits so far this year have been respiratory related, hospital says
As B.C. Children's Hospital experiences a regular annual spike in children arriving at the emergency department with respiratory symptoms, medical experts are cautioning that wait times could increase.
The Vancouver hospital says it has seen a steady rise in the number of children coming into emergency with respiratory symptoms.
A statement from the hospital on Monday said such symptoms have accounted for 44 per cent of children visiting the emergency room so far this year.
Christy Hay, executive director of clinical operations at the hospital, said the hospital is seeing between 140 and 180 patients a day, which she says is a typical increase for this time of year.
"We often see post-Christmas period, an uptick in the January and February season before the weather gets warmer," said Hay.
The release from the hospital says families need to consider their care options, from calling 911 if a child has difficulty breathing to calling 811 for health advice any time of the day.
Hay said more severe symptoms, such as difficulty breathing or a fever that lasts five days, warrants an emergency room visit.
"We do encourage [parents and guardians] to try to manage symptoms at home as best as they can," said Hay. "We encourage vaccinations, lots of fluids, lots of rest."
Dr. Garth Meckler, a pediatric physician in emergency medicine at B.C. Children's Hospital, said when emergency departments are busy, they need to focus on the most urgent issues and this can mean a longer wait for children with less urgent concerns.
People can see live wait times for Metro Vancouver hospitals on the ED wait times dashboard.
As part of the planning for increased visits, the hospital says it has put measures in place to help patient flow, expand in-patient beds and increase staff in the emergency department, as available.
It also reminds people that all staff, care providers and visitors must wear a medical mask in areas where patients are receiving care.
Recent data from the B.C. Centre for Disease Control found while flu and RSV numbers were climbing in the province, positive tests for COVID-19 had been showing a steady decline since November.
Other parts of the country have also seen an increase in respiratory illness in children, including in Alberta, Winnipeg, and Quebec.
With files from The Canadian Press and Amelia John