
By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—Haldimand County, like most regions across Ontario, is seeing a marked increase in patients checking in to local hospitals with moderate to severe respiratory symptoms, placing even more strain on a medical system currently struggling with staffing and capacity concerns.
Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health (CMOH) held a press conference Monday where he strongly recommended Ontarians take up the habit of wearing a mask in all indoor public settings, including schools and childcare environments.
The surge in respiratory illnesses is the result of ongoing COVID-19 infections, normal flu season, and a spike in Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV).
The CMOH called the issue a “triple threat that requires our collective action and action to prevent the most vulnerable in our communities – the very young, the very old, and those with underlying medical issues – and to ensure that our healthcare system remains able to care for Ontarians when they need it.”
In addition, he recommended the public get their seasonal flu shot to “protect themselves and those around them.”
A recent press release from the West Haldimand General Hospital (WHGH) noted an “unusually high seasonal surge in viral illnesses in the emergency department” and concerns “about hospital capacity now and in the coming months.”
According to the release, WHGH has “frequently” reached 100% capacity. See the full release on Page 3.
Haldimand War Memorial Hospital (HWMH) President and CEO Sharon Moore said the Dunnville-based hospital is experiencing similar issues: “HWMH is seeing a lot of patients with respiratory illness, including RSV, Influenza A, parainfluenza, and entero/rhinovirus.”
While HWMH does not admit pediatric patients, and therefore does not have specific data on the number of children presenting with RSV symptoms in the community, McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton has noted a marked increase in cases, with the hospital reporting occupancy rates at 110% at the end of October.
“Hospitals, including HWMH, are under a lot of pressure. We are seeing increased volumes of patients in all areas and the patients are often sicker. Our wait times in the emergency department are longer than many people expect as a result of this additional volume and acuity,” said Moore.
Moore said that to help alleviate pressure on the emergency department, and to avoid lengthy waits, patients should consider seeing their family physician or heading to HWMH’s assessment centre in cases that are not immediate emergencies. Appointments for the centre can be made via phone at 905-774-7431 ext. 1000, or by visiting hwmh.ca.
With RSV and respiratory infections making headlines, The Press reached out to Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit for some information on RSV, which is described by the Canadian Pediatric Society as “the most common virus that can infect the lungs and breathing tubes,” noting that the infection is “most serious in young babies.”
Sarah Titmus, Program Manager for the Infectious Disease team at HWMH, shared her expertise on the subject.
“RSV infects the lungs and airways. It causes colds and is the most common cause of bronchiolitis in young infants and toddlers. The infection is most severe in young babies and older adults and can cause serious lung infections that may require hospitalization,” explained Titmus. “However, most infants and children infected by RSV typically experience mild symptoms that last a few days. Older children and adults also get RSV, but symptoms are typically mild, similar to a common cold.”
She said the virus is “very contagious” and spreads the same way a common cold does – through droplets containing the virus – which can be picked up by being less than two metres away from someone else with the infection, or touching an item that has the virus on it. The virus can live on hard objects for more than six hours, while it lives on hands and clothing for up to one hour.
She said that while RSV symptoms mimic a common cold, they tend to be more severe and prolonged, with symptoms including coughing, runny nose, fever, wheezing, decrease in appetite and energy, and irritability.
Titmus said children should be taken to a hospital for treatment if they:
Have trouble breathing (working hard to breathe, breathing faster than normal), pale skin, lips that look white or blue, asthma, or are wheezing.
Is younger than three months old and has any of the following symptoms: fever or is very sleepy/difficult to wake, repeated vomiting and unable to keep any liquids down for eight hours or more, vomiting or diarrhea containing a large amount of blood, signs of dehydration with dry mouth, or no urination for eight hours or more.
For parents who find themselves with an infected child, Titmus offered some advice for how to manage the illness at home: “Use over-the-counter acetaminophen or ibuprofen. Ibuprofen should only be given if your child is drinking reasonably well. Do not give ibuprofen to babies under six months old without first talking to your doctor. Never give aspirin to children.”
She continued, “It is important that children drink enough fluids to prevent dehydration (loss of body fluids). If your baby is having trouble drinking, try to clear nasal congestion gently with a bulb syringe or with saline (salt water) nose drops.”
She also recommended a lukewarm bath or wet face cloths to provide comfort and dressing children in light clothing that helps the body to lose heat, noting that layers can be added if the child is shivering but should be removed once they stop.
She said children under the age of two at risk of severe illness from RSV may be eligible for the drug palivizumab, used to prevent a serious lower tract infection caused by the virus.
Lastly, she provided some tips for protecting children from RSV and other common illnesses. These tips include keeping your child at home if they are sick and avoiding sick relatives until they have no fever and their symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours if they had nausea, vomiting and/or diarrhea), cleaning surfaces in your home that are touched often on a regular basis, washing your hands and your children’s hands often to reduce the spread of germs, coughing into your sleeve instead of your hand, breastfeeding your baby to help them develop antibodies and other immune factors, and refraining from smoking around your children.