Demanda hospitalaria pediátrica en tiempos de COVID-19 / Pediatric hospital demand in the COVID-19 pandemic

RESUMEN La pandemia del COVID-19 en el Perú está causando una presión inusual a nuestros recursos hospitalarios y de cuidados críticos. A medida que la infección progresa en la población, esperamos ver un alza en los casos severos y en la demanda de unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) donde la capacidad de camas puede ser excedida. A pesar de que usualmente el COVID-19 causa una enfermedad poco grave en los niños, debemos estar preparados para que el numero de casos pediátricos ocasionen una sobrecarga en la capacidad de recursos hospitalarios. En un escenario de un 25% de proporción de infección acumulada en la población, podremos ver aproximadamente 891 niños críticamente enfermos que requieren hospitalización en UCI. Proponemos algunas estrategias para enfrentar la escasez de recursos de cuidados intensivos que permitan asegurar la atención de niños vulnerables con condiciones agudas y condiciones complejas que siguen incidiendo en los tiempos de pandemia.

ABSTRACT The COVID-19 pandemic in Perú is causing an unusual pressure in our sanitarian and critic care resources. As the pandemics have progressed in the population, an increasing of several cases and intensive care units (ICU) demand will be expected, because of that, the hospitals capacities would be exceeded in a short place. Despite the low severity of COVID-19 cases in children, we expect that the projected number of pediatric cases could overwhelm the available pediatric capacity. Under a 25% cumulative infection rate scenario, there would be approximately 891 critically ill children requiring ICU admission. We propose several strategies to handle the concerns about shortfalls in our ability to provide pediatric ventilation and critical care support during the epidemic in Perú.

Association between allergic rhinitis and asthma control in Peruvian school children: a cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Asthma and allergic rhinitis are highly prevalent conditions that cause major illness worldwide. This study aimed to assess the association between allergic rhinitis and asthma control in Peruvian school children. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 256 children with asthma recruited in 5 schools from Lima and Callao cities. The outcome was asthma control assessed by the asthma control test. A score test for trend of odds was used to evaluate the association between allergic rhinitis severity and the prevalence of inadequate asthma control. A generalized linear regression model was used to estimate the adjusted prevalence ratios of inadequate asthma control. RESULTS: Allergic rhinitis was present in 66.4% of the population with asthma. The trend analysis showed a positive association between allergic rhinitis and the probability of inadequate asthma control (P < 0.001). It was associated with an increased prevalence of inadequate asthma control, with adjusted prevalence ratios of 1.53 (95% confidence interval: 1.19-1.98). CONCLUSION: This study indicates that allergic rhinitis is associated with an inadequate level of asthma control, giving support to the recommendation of evaluating rhinitis to improve asthma control in children.

Pediatric hospital demand in COVID-19 times in Perú / Demanda hospitalaria pediátrica en tiempos de COVID-19 en Perú

COVID-19 pandemic in Perú is causing strain on critical care and hospital resources across the nation. As the infection progress into the population we expect a surge in severe cases and on the intensive care unit (ICU) demand. As the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak approaches, the capacity for hospital and ICU beds will probably be exceeded. Despite the low severity of COVID-19 in children, we expect that the projected number of pediatric cases could overwhelm the available pediatric capacity as the outbreak progress in our country. Under a 25% cumulative infection rate scenario, there would be approximately 891 critically ill children requiring ICU admission. We propose several strategies to handle the concerns about shortfalls in our ability to provide pediatric ventilation and critical care support during the epidemic in Perú.

La pandemia del COVID-19 en el Perú está causando una presión inusual a nuestros recursos hospitalarios y de cuidados críticos. A medida que la infección progresa en la población, esperamos ver un alza en los casos severos y en la demanda de unidad de cuidados intensivos (UCI) donde la capacidad de camas puede ser excedida. A pesar de que usualmente el COVID-19 causa una enfermedad poco grave en los niños, debemos estar preparados para que el numero de casos pediátricos ocasionen una sobrecarga en la capacidad de recursos hospitalarios. En un escenario de un 25% de proporción de infección acumulada en la población, podremos ver aproximadamente 891 niños críticamente enfermos que requieren hospitalización en UCI. Proponemos algunas estrategias para enfrentar la escasez de recursos de cuidados intensivos que permitan asegurar la atención de niños vulnerables con condiciones agudas y condiciones complejas que siguen incidiendo en los tiempos de pandemia.