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Costa Rica worries about increase of respiratory viruses in children

San Jose, Aug 24 (Prensa Latina) Health authorities in Costa Rica are reinforcing admission and personnel capacities at the National Children's Hospital (HNN), due to the increase of cases of respiratory viruses, with a high circulation at this time of the year.

According to data from the institution, at this moment there are 106 minors hospitalized due to respiratory viruses, a situation that has been occurring for the last eight weeks.

The director of the HNN Carlos Jimenez explained to Teletica news that in the last five years the Emergency Department handled an average of 200 patients per day, while the average in the last month is around 300 patients.

He listed the viruses that are currently affecting children the most: human rhinovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, SARS-CoV-2, influenza A and B, parainfluenza 1, adenovirus, bocavirus, and metapneumovirus.

In his opinion, there are several factors that influence this respiratory peak such as the seasonal nature of the rainy season, the inadequate use of emergency services at the country level and the lack of sanitary measures such as hand washing, the correct protocol when coughing and sneezing and the use of masks in crowded places or when in contact with a sick person.

It is important that parents and caregivers do not expose children to crowded places.

In the case of children with flu, do not send them to education centers to avoid the spread of respiratory viruses, warned the doctor.

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