With nearly 99% of its pediatric beds in use, ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is first nationwide for youngsters needing inpatient medical attention — including high numbers with respiratory illnesses, particularly respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV.
A national nonprofit called is utilizing U.S. Department of Health and Human Services data to map how states are doing with surges in pediatric illnesses, and related hospital bed space.
There are just under 800 pediatric hospital beds in the state, including intensive care beds, and 85 of ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥â€™s hospitals, or 55.6%, are reporting their numbers. Not all hospitals provide pediatric care.
The map aligns very well with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s RSV data tracker by state and region, said Dr. Sean Elliott, medical director of infectious diseases and immunizations for the ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.
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The current trends reflect how ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥ is currently peaking “with hopeful down-trends in the next several weeks,†he said.
The map was created to help clinicians and other health-care professionals follow pediatric bed availability, said Dr. Theresa Cullen, the county’s public health director.
RSV is transmitting at about 10 to 11 times the number typically seen at this time of year in Pima County, compared to a five-year average.
Typically, babies under 6 months of age are the most common RSV patients seen in hospitals but this year, admissions include many toddlers and pre-school children, up to age 4, as well as some elderly patients.
This RSV surge is occurring as COVID-19 community transmission has also jumped to high levels, and influenza cases are five times higher than the five-year average. Babies and children are also being seen with influenza and COVID-19.
“There is no specific treatment for RSV infection, and it typically goes away on its own in a week or two, but the virus can cause serious lung infections in infants, older adults and those who are immunocompromised,†said Dr. Merlin Lowe Jr., division chief of pediatric hospital medicine at Banner-Children’s Diamond Children’s Medical Center.
Parents should consult a health care provider if a young child has difficulty breathing, isn’t drinking enough fluids, or has worsening cold-like systems including a cough, said Steve Elliott, communications director for the state’s Department of Health Services.
Cullen said the county health department is working with the state’s health department to figure out options on how to help at this time.
“As a community member, please remember to vaccinate when appropriate,†Cullen said, “mask in indoor public situations, and stay home when possible if you, or a family member, are ill.â€
New research shows vaccinating pregnant women helped protect their newborns from the common but scary respiratory virus called RSV that fills hospitals with wheezing babies each fall. The preliminary results buoy hope that after decades of failure and frustration, vaccines against RSV may finally be getting close. Pfizer announced Tuesday that a large international study found vaccinating moms-to-be was nearly 82% effective at preventing severe cases of RSV in their babies' most vulnerable first 90 days of life. At age 6 months, the vaccine still was proving 69% effective against serious illness — and there were no signs of safety problems in mothers or babies. Dr. William Schaffner, Professor of Preventive Medicine in the Department of Health Policy at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville said this strategy is to "protect the mom, but also importantly, some of that protection cross the placenta, protect that newborn through the first several months of life before we can start vaccinating the newborn." The vaccine quest isn't just to protect infants. RSV is dangerous for older adults, too, and both Pfizer and rival GSK recently announced that their competing shots also proved protective for seniors. None of the findings will help this year when an early RSV surge already is crowding children's hospitals. But they raise the prospect that one or more vaccines might become available before next fall's RSV season.
Only one ÃÛèÖÖ±²¥-area hospital earning an 'A' by watchdog group
