Vaccinating children at risk for respiratory syncytial virus, which causes bronchiolitis, and updating a children’s health fact sheet are some of the panel’s suggestions for improving prevention strategies.
In an article published in Acta Médica Portuguesa, the scientific journal of the Order of Physicians, researchers list several recommendations to prevent infection with the virus, which affects nine out of ten children under two years of age and is the leading cause of hospitalization. up to the age of 12 months.
Experts from the RSV Think Tank – Inspiring Change working group, which includes doctors and health economics experts, note the lack of an adequate strategy for the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus in Portugal and highlight the 10 most important actions that need to be taken. implemented.
In the area of literacy, the group proposes providing specialized training for educators and teachers on respiratory infections in schools and kindergartens, as well as developing information brochures about the virus to be distributed to parents during consultations.
The researchers also recommend updating the Child and Young People’s Health Bulletin to include specific topics for each age group to discuss respiratory infections, and establishing multidisciplinary teams involving primary and secondary care, local authorities and schools to work on health. increase.
“There are many approaches that can be implemented here that contribute specifically to reducing the burden of disease caused by respiratory syncytial virus infection,” public health doctor Ricardo Mexia explained to Lusa.
The specialist, who is also president of Lumiara Parish Council, also stressed the importance of involving local authorities in the measures taken.
“Local authorities increasingly need to take on an appropriate role (…) in ensuring public health, not necessarily in terms of provision, but clearly in terms of finding better solutions to give people better health choices,” he said .
The researchers also point to increasing the length of maternity/paternity leave for parents of premature babies to reduce early exposure of these babies to other children at high risk of infections and respiratory complications.
They also intend to create a national working group on respiratory syncytial virus or restructure the existing working group (Directorate General of Health).
Regarding pharmacological measures, they propose introducing “an effective preventive method for all children.”
Asked whether the Directorate General of Health should include a vaccine against the virus in the National Vaccination Program next winter, Ricardo Mexia said it was an issue that “must be very well thought out” because it entails costs. emphasized: “We already know that there is evidence [da vacinação] regarding the reduction of morbidity.”
An example is the case of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, where this vaccination was introduced last year.
In a region where 96.9% of babies born during the period of greatest activity of the virus have already been vaccinated, and 93.7% of those born in the pre-season period, vaccination coverage has led to a reduction in the number of hospitalized babies by 67%.
“I hope that the assessment will be carried out and that the General Directorate of Health, which is working on this and has even set a goal that I think is very ambitious, will be able to make a decision.”
Respiratory syncytial virus, during its period of greatest activity—during the autumn and winter months—can cause more than 80% of acute lower respiratory tract infections in children under one year of age.
Author: Lusa
Source: CM Jornal
I’m Sandra Hansen, a news website Author and Reporter for 24 News Reporters. I have over 7 years of experience in the journalism field, with an extensive background in politics and political science. My passion is to tell stories that are important to people around the globe and to engage readers with compelling content.