New Mexico health experts worried about increase in COVID-19 cases in children



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Dr Alex Cvijanovich, a pediatrician at the Presbyterian, said it is not only older children and adolescents who are hospitalized, but that she is also admitting newborns.

“Over the past few days, UNM Hospital has seen an increase in the number of pediatric patients that we take care of,” she said. “What we are seeing more of is that children, babies under one year old, are hospitalized at a slightly higher rate than children between one and four years old.”

She pointed out that children aged 12 and over are vaccinated while some children leave the hospital with lasting impacts.

“Children suffer from prolonged respiratory symptoms, fatigue, shortness of breath, exercise intolerance and some brain fog,” Cvijanovich said.

She said the number of children admitted is relatively low, but is concerned about what the situation will look like once school starts statewide.

“I think it’s a big concern that there has already been a slight increase in hospitalizations for pediatric patients, and that’s even before school starts,” Cvijanovich said.

She says mask requirements and social distancing at APS will be key to preventing the spread.

Recently, health experts pleaded with the state to get vaccinated because hospitals are already full.

“We are almost all full for intensive care and non-ICU beds, there is very little extra capacity,” said Dr Denise Gonzales, medical director of the Presbyterian Healthcare Service. “In Presbyterian, statewide, we are experiencing a doubling every week. Three weeks ago we had about 22 patients, last week about 45 and this week we had almost 90 patients hospitalized with COVID. “



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