Massachusetts pediatric intensive care units are overflowing as doctors deal with an unusually early and severe season of respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, in addition to other circulating respiratory viruses. Dr. Brian Cummings, medical director of the Department of Pediatrics at Mass. General for Children, described the situation as an “inpatient bed crisis”. “Today in our Pediatric ICU, our ICU is completely full. We actually have seven patients who are outside the Pediatric ICU who would normally be transferred to the Pediatric ICU, but we are forced to take care of them outside of the traditional ICU setting,” Cummings said. Dr. Paul Biddinger, head of preparedness and continuity at Mass. General Brigham, added that the hospital’s intensive care unit is at “150% capacity” given the number of children in their care with serious illnesses MGH saw approximately 2,000 cases of RSV in October and more than 1,000 in the first week of November, Most cases are treated in urgent care facilities or emergency departments and patients can recover at home, but Cummings said the MGH system has supported 250 hospitalized patients for the RSV in addition to those sickened by others viruses in circulation. “It escalated and was quite serious,” he said. “Why is this happening now? Well, over the past two years, our children really haven’t been exposed to routine viruses,” said Dr. Alexy Arauz Boudreau, deputy chief of pediatrics for care primary at the MGH. “And now that they’re no longer masking or social distancing, their immune systems are encountering new viruses.” RSV is a common cold virus but can cause serious illness in young children and the elderly with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that infants, especially those six months or younger, and people aged 65 or older, are at higher risk of serious infection. “The younger you are when you are infected, the more likely you are to have a more acute presentation. Our patients, the youngest patients, are at the greatest risk of needing hospitalization,” Dr Cummings said. Cummings also mentioned that due to the recent increase in viral patient admissions, the hospital has had to cancel some pediatric surgeries. “We have unfortunately been forced to cancel some pediatric surgeries this week much to the disappointment of our staff. and our families,” Cummings said. “But it’s a sad reality right now because we have to make tough decisions about where to place patients.” Severe RSV infection can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, which may require hospitalization.Federal data shows RSV cases this year in Massachusetts surpassed last year’s peak.Adults p can also contract RSV and transmit the virus, Dr. Helen Boucher, dean of Tufts University School of Medicine, told NewsCenter 5 in a recent interview. Although they may show cold symptoms, infected adults will be contagious for three to eight days and should take steps to prevent transmission to others, especially those at high risk. Transmission of the virus can be prevented by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often with soap and water, avoiding close contact with others, and frequently cleaning affected surfaces such as doorknobs , according to the CDC. Currently, there is no vaccine available for RSV. However, Pfizer said the company is completing a clinical trial that is showing good results and hopes to get government approval for the vaccine by the end of next year.
Massachusetts pediatric intensive care units are overflowing as doctors deal with an unusually early and severe season of respiratory syncytial virus, also known as RSV, in addition to other circulating respiratory viruses.
Dr. Brian Cummings, medical director of the Department of Pediatrics at Mass. General for Children, described the situation as an “inpatient bed crisis.”
“Today in our Pediatric ICU, our ICU is completely full. We actually have seven patients who are outside the Pediatric ICU who would normally be transferred to the Pediatric ICU, but we are forced to care for them outside of the traditional ICU setting,” Cummings said.
Dr. Paul Biddinger, head of readiness and continuity at Mass. General Brigham, added that the hospital’s intensive care unit is at “150% capacity” given the number of children in their care with serious illnesses.
MGH saw about 2,000 cases of RSV in October and more than 1,000 in the first week of November, Cummings said. Most cases are treated in urgent care facilities or emergency departments and patients can recover at home, but Cummings said the MGH system has supported 250 hospitalized RSV patients in addition to those who are sick with other circulating viruses.
“It escalated and was quite serious,” he said.
“Why is this happening now? Well, over the past two years, our children really haven’t been exposed to routine viruses,” said Dr. Alexy Arauz Boudreau, deputy chief of pediatrics for care primary at the MGH. “And now that they’re no longer masking or social distancing, their immune systems are encountering new viruses.”
RSV is a common cold virus but can cause serious illness in young children and the elderly with weakened immune systems. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that infants, especially those six months or younger, and people aged 65 or older, are at higher risk of serious infection.
“The younger you are when you are infected, the more likely you are to have a more acute presentation. Our patients, the youngest patients, are at the greatest risk of needing hospitalization,” Dr Cummings said.
Cummings also mentioned that due to the recent spike in virus patient admissions, the hospital had to cancel some pediatric surgeries.
“We have unfortunately been forced to cancel pediatric surgeries this week much to the disappointment of our staff and families,” Cummings said. “But it’s a sad reality right now because we have to make tough decisions about where to place patients.”
A severe RSV infection can lead to pneumonia or bronchiolitis, which may require hospitalization.
Federal data shows this year’s RSV cases in Massachusetts surpassed last year’s peak of cases.
Adults can also contract RSV and transmit the virus, Dr. Helene Boucher, dean of Tufts University School of Medicine, told NewsCenter 5 in a recent interview. Although they may show cold symptoms, infected adults will be contagious for three to eight days and should take steps to prevent transmission to others, especially those at high risk.
Transmission of the virus can be prevented by covering coughs and sneezes, washing hands often with soap and water, avoiding close contact with others, and frequently cleaning affected surfaces such as doorknobs , according to the CDC.
Currently, there is no vaccine available for RSV. However, Pfizer said the company is completing a clinical trial that is showing good results and hopes to get government approval for the vaccine by the end of next year.