The disease can have a serious impact on younger children and infants. On Friday, doctors at North Light Health and MaineHealth said the rise in RSV cases in children and toddlers is not only straining staff, but prompting doctors at both health care groups to rush children to emergency rooms. “We have 87 pediatric beds at Maine Medical Center. One hundred percent of them are full,” explained Dr. Dora Ann Mills, chief health improvement officer for MaineHealth. As of Friday, none of the health care systems had a death attributed to RSV. But as widespread staff shortages affect health centers and patients with COVID-19 remain a factor in treatment, Maine doctors are asking parents with sick children in the state who have a fever, cough or runny nose to seek primary care before going to a room hospital emergency rooms in order to save these resources for children with severe respiratory symptoms. “The main reason they’re admitted to the hospital is because their small airways collapse and they can’t get enough oxygen into their system,” said Dr. Mary Ottolini, chair of pediatrics at Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital. part of Maine Medical Center and MaineHealth. To deal with the surge, MaineHealth must postpone some non-emergency surgeries, though Northern Light Health said it has not had to do so yet. The issue isn’t unique to Maine—Massachusetts has reported similar concerns at their hospitals, as have other systems across the country. Asked about RSV concerns as families prepare to gather for Thanksgiving in the coming weeks, Dr. James Jarvis, senior medical officer for Northern Light Health, said he’s concerned “that we’re starting to see an increase in respiratory viruses because the people begin to gather together. “If you have young children, especially infants at home, this may not be the time to hold gatherings because of this particular crisis that we’re seeing right now,” he added. Jarvis said other suggestions for mitigating the spread of respiratory illnesses at Thanksgiving meals include washing hands, considering taking a meal outside, keeping spaces well ventilated and keeping a distance from other people.
