MUMBAI: In the wake of a rise in respiratory illness among children in China and increased hospitalisations, Maharashtra‘s public health department has instructed all districts to ensure their Covid infrastructure and systems are fully functional.
While paediatricians in city and across the state assert that there is no unusual activity in respiratory illnesses among children, state officials have stressed on increasing surveillance of hospitalised and cluster cases in this population.
The state’s communication comes after the Centre on Sunday issued an advisory asking states to review their preparedness.
Dr Pratapsingh Sarnikar, joint director of health, said surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and Influenza-Like Illnesses (OR) should be strengthened across medical colleges, district hospitals and other health centres across Maharashtra
In terms of hospital preparedness, districts have been told to ensure availability of beds, oxygen, ventilators, manpower readiness, and functioning of oxygen plant and oxygen cylinders in all district covid hospitals.
As far as laboratory survey is concerned, the samples of ILI/SARI patients in health institution should be sent to RTPCR laboratories.
Also some samples of ILI/SARI patient should be sent to National Institute of Virology Pune for genetic sequencing.
However, a doctor from a public-run hospital said several of them don’t have the facility to run influenza panels to check if a hospitalised child has H1N1, H3N2 or any other type of influenza, which could make surveillance challenging. Such samples are usually sent to private labs.
“But we can check respiratory secretions through smear and culture tests for bacterial pneumonia,” the doctor added. Paediatrician Dr Vijay Yewale said monitoring cluster cases and hospitalized patients is the ideal approach.
Hospitals have also been asked to strengthen infection control practices in hospitals such as frequent hand washing, wearing masks, use of PPE. etc. Availability of drug stocks and other materials should also be checked to ensure there are medicines for respiratory diseases.
While paediatricians in city and across the state assert that there is no unusual activity in respiratory illnesses among children, state officials have stressed on increasing surveillance of hospitalised and cluster cases in this population.
The state’s communication comes after the Centre on Sunday issued an advisory asking states to review their preparedness.
Dr Pratapsingh Sarnikar, joint director of health, said surveillance of severe acute respiratory infections (SARI) and Influenza-Like Illnesses (OR) should be strengthened across medical colleges, district hospitals and other health centres across Maharashtra
In terms of hospital preparedness, districts have been told to ensure availability of beds, oxygen, ventilators, manpower readiness, and functioning of oxygen plant and oxygen cylinders in all district covid hospitals.
As far as laboratory survey is concerned, the samples of ILI/SARI patients in health institution should be sent to RTPCR laboratories.
Also some samples of ILI/SARI patient should be sent to National Institute of Virology Pune for genetic sequencing.
However, a doctor from a public-run hospital said several of them don’t have the facility to run influenza panels to check if a hospitalised child has H1N1, H3N2 or any other type of influenza, which could make surveillance challenging. Such samples are usually sent to private labs.
“But we can check respiratory secretions through smear and culture tests for bacterial pneumonia,” the doctor added. Paediatrician Dr Vijay Yewale said monitoring cluster cases and hospitalized patients is the ideal approach.
Hospitals have also been asked to strengthen infection control practices in hospitals such as frequent hand washing, wearing masks, use of PPE. etc. Availability of drug stocks and other materials should also be checked to ensure there are medicines for respiratory diseases.