Fluctuations in Weather, ECUs Become Overcrowded 醫:各種感染症提早肆虐 各院急診暴增

Doctors observed that apart from COVID-19, many other types of infectious diseases seem to take an earlier appearance, flooding emergency care units of all hospitals, especially pediatric emergency care. 

With the recent fluctuations in weather, emergency care units start to become overcrowded. Doctors discovered that there is no need to wait till winter, as all kinds of infectious diseases are already rampant. Apart from COVID-19, there are diseases like Mycoplasma pneumonia, Norovirus gastroenteritis, etc. Specifically, the number of pediatric emergency care patients rose significantly. For example, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital's Pediatric Emergency Care received 130 patients on Monday, highly likely due to the high level of epidemic prevention in the past, resulting in zero antibodies within children's bodies, rendering the "immunity debt" phenomenon. 

Wu Chang-tung, PEC Doctor, Linkou Chang Gung Memorial Hospital: “When our border controls are lifted, or when our personal epidemic prevention is relaxed, plus these viruses in fact are sort of making a counter-attack, so the number of children coming into emergency care is notably increasing. ”

Doctors note that pediatric rooms are almost at full occupancy, seemingly harking back to pre-pandemic. However, not just children, adult emergency care patients too are on the rise. Experts warn that the southern hemisphere, namely, Australia, has discovered that the flu and respiratory syncytial virus are making a fierce and swift appearance, raising the hospitalization rate for the elderly and children. When the border controls are lifted, people must stay alert.

Lee Jian-chang, Emergency Care Doctor, National Taiwan University Hospital: “RSV mainly targets infants, and infected infants may develop bronchiolitis and suffer from vehement coughing, concaved chest, and panting. The other likely group is senior elders, where similar symptoms develop in senior elders with RSV.”

Doctors remind the public that this year's flu will make a massive invasion, creating an influenza outbreak domestically. Therefore, it is important to get fully vaccinated with the requisite vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccine shots and flu shots. In addition, people should still upkeep high personal hygiene, including wearing a mask, frequent washing of hands, and maintaining social distance.

近來天氣多變化，各醫院急診室也開始人滿為患，有醫師發現不用等到冬天，各種感染症都提早肆虐，除了新冠肺炎，還有黴漿菌肺炎、諾羅病毒腸胃炎等齊發，尤其兒童急診人數暴增。以林口長庚為例，光是星期一的兒童急診就有130人次，很可能是過去高度防疫小朋友體內沒有抗體，造成免疫負債的現象。

林口長庚兒科急診醫師吳昌騰指出：「當我們國境開放或者說個人防護有比較鬆懈的時候，再加上這些病毒，事實上它們有做一些反撲的動作的時候，我們的小朋友的急診來診量就會看到比較明顯增加。」

醫師表示，目前兒科病房幾乎滿床，似乎又回到疫情前的場景，但其實不只兒童，成人急診也有增加趨勢，有專家警告，南半球澳洲發現，今（2022）年的流感及呼吸道融合病毒來得又急又兇，老人和小孩住院率都提高，當我國邊境解封後，一定要提高警覺。

台大急診部醫師李建璋表示：「呼吸道融合病毒主要是針對嬰兒，嬰兒的話他會產生細支氣管炎，就是會劇烈的咳嗽，然後會有胸凹，很喘這樣子，另外一個族群就是老人，這個呼吸道融合病毒也是引發咳嗽、氣促的情況。」

醫師提醒今年流感很可能大舉入侵，造成國內大流行，呼籲民眾該打的疫苗一定要去打，包括新冠及流感疫苗，另外也要保持個人衛生習慣，包括戴口罩、勤洗手、保持社交距離等，以降低各種病毒感染風險。