Amid the increase in Covid-19 cases due to the Ômicron variant in the country, there are only eight pediatric ICU beds available for the treatment of Covid-19, in the entire Unified Health System (SUS) network in the state of Rio de Janeiro. . This includes municipal units, state, federal and private hospitals located in the state. This number does not take into account those that are already busy or unable to use for some reason. The information was obtained exclusively by the CNNthis Monday (7), through the Access to Information Law.
The document obtained by CNN shows that all beds available in Rio de Janeiro are located in only two health units, both in the capital of Rio de Janeiro. The Hospital Municipal Jesus, specialized in pediatrics, houses seven of the eight places available in the state. The Hospital Federal da Lagoa is responsible for the eighth pediatric bed.
For Tania Petraglia, secretary of the Scientific Department of Immunizations of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics (SBP), the concentration of beds makes it difficult to care for children from other regions of the state, which can lead to a worsening in the patient’s clinical condition.
“We need to have a structure in Rio to embrace all the children in the state. The criticism goes a lot to the need to transport a child, for example, from the north of Fluminense to the capital, which can make health status difficult. The number of beds really seems very small, we need to see if it meets the demand”, said Tania Petraglia.
In a note, the State Department of Health (SES) says that it currently has 17 pediatric ICU beds. The Municipal Health Department (SMS) provides 11 beds in the Intensive Unit in the capital for children. The Ministry of Health has not yet returned the demand.
Increase in Covid-19 cases in children and adolescents
The number of children and adolescents with Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) caused by Covid-19 tripled in January 2022, compared to the same month last year. This is what the data from the Ministry of Health show.
Hospitalizations in the country jumped from 697 to 2,122, in the range between zero and 19 years. The deaths almost doubled, from 49 to 86.
Source: CNN Brasil
