DOHA: In a positive development, the number of children visiting emergency departments in Al Sadd, Al Rayyan, Airport, Al Shamal and Al Daayen has dropped by 50 per cent due to measures taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Dr. Muhammad Al Amri, Senior Consultant and Director of Children’s Emergency at Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC), said not stepping out of the house unless absolutely necessary has greatly contributed to reducing the number of emergency department cases, especially children.
He noted children’s emergency departments are currently receiving 700 patients daily, while the figure was 1,400 earlier. He said another reason for fewer patients is increasing awareness among the public about how to deal with illnesses that afflict their children. Many now do not go to emergency departments unless required due to fear of Covid-19 while others keep necessary medicines at home to deal with minor illnesses.
He said there are separate emergency routes for those suspected of having coronavirus. The triage area for patients outside emergency departments is thoroughly sanitised round the clock to ensure possible Covid-19 patients do not come in contact with others.
If a child is brought with an illness or injury, he or she is transferred directly to the relevant building where treatment can be administered without entering the triage area.
He said the treatment protocol for children with coronavirus is auxiliary and antipyretic drugs. Some cases may call for other medicines, especially for those whose immune systems react to the virus. This can lead to a rash, continuous high temperature or multiple infections. However, such cases are rare, he said.
Coronavirus cases are individually evaluated and vital signs checked. Medical staff make sure there are no infections of any kind or high temperature. The case is then fully reassessed and then transferred to quarantine areas determined by the Ministry of Public Health. If follow-ups are needed, the patient can once again be referred to the emergency department, he said.
Al Amri stated parents are allowed to accompany their children throughout, whether during the emergency treatment or quarantine periods after leaving the emergency department.
He said summer diseases such as intestinal influenza, gastrointestinal disorders and others in general have declined this year. Al Amri stressed on the need to continue strictly adhering to precautionary measures, even with restrictions being lifted. Social distancing and masks are a must, he said, along with regular hand washing with soap and water and not leaving the house unless really necessary.