An increase in cases of respiratory syncytial virus and influenza among children is leaving pediatric hospitals and clinics overwhelmed, according to the Canadian Pediatric Society. This has resulted in increased wait times at facilities across Canada. Several Canadians wrote to CTVNews.ca about their difficulties with booking doctor's appointments for their children over the last few months.
After her son caught COVID-19 earlier this year, Jessica Botelho said she was looking forward to his annual checkup. While three-year-old Jaxson has since recovered from his high fever and upset stomach, Botelho said she wanted to make sure he wasn't suffering from any long-term complications.
This prompted federal health officials to urge Canadians to wear face masks while indoors. During a COVID-19 update on Thursday, Canada's Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Theresa Tam said multiple layers of protection will be crucial to reduce the impact of a fall surge of COVID-19, RSV and influenza cases on hospitals.
Botelho said she's unsure whether allowing symptomatic patients in the clinic at a specific time will actually help curb transmission. This is because children under the age of two are not required to wear masks in the clinic. When her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter caught pneumonia last month, Tanya Copley said she also struggled to book a doctor's appointment. Based in Montreal, Copley said her daughter's pediatrician is currently on maternity leave.
“Before, the second they coughed, the daycare would call you up and tell you to come pick up your child, they're sick,” she said. “Now, suddenly everyone is catching something and all their little friends catch it too.”A lack of exposure to respiratory illnesses is also contributing to low immunity among children, said Deputy Chief Public Health Officer Dr. Howard Njoo.
After visiting the clinic, Copley said her daughter was given antibiotics to treat her pneumonia and has since recovered. Going forward, she might rethink her strategy when trying to book a doctor's appointment for her daughter, she said.
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