“The pediatric population infected with Covid-19 has shown growth, a phenomenon related to the non-compliance of hygienic measures by the family, the main responsible for preventing children from getting sick.
"Fortunately, we have not had pediatric patients in serious condition, however, experience indicates that youngsters also become seriously ill and can die, like adults," Dr. Pedro Luis Rodríguez Cabrera, II Degree specialist in Pediatrics, said.
The doctor asked the Ciego de Ávila`s families to reinforce the care of minors on behalf of the Committee of Experts of the Roberto Rodríguez Fernández General Teaching Hospital, where suspected and positive patients for Covid-19 are treated.
Dr. María Eugenia Martínez Ibáñez, another II Degree specialist in Pediatrics and a member of the aforementioned team of experts, confirmed that “in the second outbreak of the disease there has been a significant increase in pediatric patients, including infants.
“It is regrettable that some mothers do not take extreme measures of protection in the current circumstances. We have even had neonatal infants diagnosed as positive for the disease," she said.
Martínez Ibáñez, also qualified as a Master in Comprehensive Child Care, stressed that the hospital of Morón is currently assuming the treatment of pediatric patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“Seven positive children and three suspects receive medical assistance, the later ones awaiting the result of the RT-PCR test. In general, the movement of pediatric patients, not only in the rooms for suspect people but also in the ones for positive sufferers, has been significant. In the first outbreaks, Covid-19 did not manifest itself in this way,” he said.
Both specialists insisted on the lack of care for infants as the main cause of contagion, despite the actions carried out by the Public Health System, with the accompaniment of the media, to guide the family on the importance of maximizing the safeguard of minors.
Dr. María Eugenia emphasized that "the most important matter is to increase preventive measures and take care of ourselves (adults) to avoid exposing them to these situations."
"WORKHORSE" IN THE FACE TO COVID-19
The use of Cuban drugs has prevented complications and deaths of pediatric patients infected with the SARS-CoV-2 virus, Dr. Martínez Ibáñez expressed.
According to the therapeutic protocols, “we are using two varieties of interferon (lyophilized, for patients under three years of age, and Alpha 2B for those over that age). It begins to be applied as soon as the patient is admitted as a suspect individual, so that if it is confirmed as positive we have already made progress in the medication", she highlighted.
These applications have been very effective. We jokingly call interferon "the workhorse" in the treatment and confrontation of Covid-19, taking into account that with this drug we avoid complications, at least that is the experience of the province of Ciego de Ávila", Dr. María Eugenia added.
The Master in Comprehensive Child Care stressed that "thanks to the Cuban scientific-technical revolution, we have not had serious pediatric patients or deaths in the territory of Ciego de Ávila."
In the suspected children, other drugs of national production are used and, in the positive ones, only interferon is applied, appreciating its positive effects.
Mariannys Noa Martínez, mother of a pediatric patient diagnosed as positive for the virus, confirmed that since the first application of Interferon her son has evolved favorably, due to the disappearance of febrile symptoms.
Yaritza Martínez, who accompanies her adolescent daughter during the hospitalization, also valued the effect of the Interferon, noting that it quickly contributed to eliminating the symptoms, "she has recovered her palate and smell, and she is in a good mood."