Most children are presenting with very mild flu-like symptoms and fever
The CHU Sainte-Justine and The Montreal Children's Hospital of the McGill University Health Centre are currently seeing a significant increase in patients in their Emergency Departments. Children are arriving with mild flu-like symptoms and fever. The hospitals wish to remind parents that their Emergency Rooms are reserved for urgent care. Mild flu-like symptoms should be treated at home. Also, due to the increased demand for care, the hospitals are NOT testing children to determine if they have H1N1.
"The Emergency is unusually busy for this time of year," says Dr. Harley Eisman, Medical Director, Emergency Department at The Montreal Children's Hospital. "The increase is attributable to children coming in with mild flu-like symptoms and fever. This increase is resulting in extra pressures on the Emergency Department, and therefore, an increase in wait times."
Dr. Eisman reminds parents that the H1N1 influenza is a relatively mild form of the flu and is very similar in severity to the annual flu virus. The only difference is that flu season has started earlier and more people are being infected.
Even though the second wave of the H1N1 virus has only just started, both ERs are already at 180% capacity. The Montreal Children's Hospital Emergency Room is staffed and equipped to treat approximately 180 children per day. The current daily average is 300. CHU Sainte-Justine is staffed and equipped to treat 180 per day and is currently seeing 250 children.
"Children in need of urgent care are our number one priority. There is absolutely no wait for emergency care. However, any patient arriving with mild flu-like symptoms can expect to wait before seeing a health professional. It is important, that parents prepare for the flu season by educating themselves on ways to keep their children healthy, to manage minor illness and injury at home, to know when they should see a doctor and when they should visit the Emergency Department," says Dr. Michael Arsenault, Medical Manager of Emergency Services at the CHU Sainte-Justine.
Dr. Arsenault points out that emergency rooms must be reserved for children who are seriously ill or injured. He says, if everyone runs to the ER when their child has a low-grade fever it will impinge on the staff's ability to treat children whose lives are in danger.