The number of respiratory tract infections in the Republic of Moldova has soared. Minister of Health Ala Nemerenco said the district and municipal hospitals, including the intensive care units of these, are packed with patients with viral infections. The virus is more aggressive in the case of children. The authorities call on the parents not to resort to self-medication and to go and see a doctor immediately after the first symptoms appear, IPN reports.

The minister noted the current wave of respiratory infections is a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic and the strict isolation rules imposed during the pandemic. The children younger than four are the most susceptible ones as they do not yet have natural immunity against viruses.

“The hospitals are packed. The pediatric sections of the district, municipal and national hospitals have been extended. The number of additional beds for patients with viral infections has been increased on the account of other sections. Such a development was forecast by specialists, epidemiologists, during the pandemic as we had a period of lockdowns, online work, non-attendance of kindergartens, while the generation of children aged between zero and four are susceptible because they haven’t experienced viral infections and haven’t developed natural immunity. Compared with last year, we have a 2.5-fold increase in the number of all the types of respiratory tract infections. Viral infections start to appear in October. Since October 3 up to now, we had 76,000 cases involving both children and adults,” Ala Nemerenco stated in the talk show “Freedom” on TV8 channel.

The minister noted that in the case of adults, hospital admissions are higher in number in the case of children. She called on the population to go and see a doctor so as to receive specialized treatment and not to resort to self-medication.

“The cases this year are rather aggressive. Complications are developed swiftly as the child does not have antibodies and aggressiveness is greater than in the case of a child with immunity. We do not have lethal cases, but we have patients admitted to intensive care units. The intensive care units in all the hospitals that have such units are packed. My request to parents is to go and see a doctor on the first symptoms typical of an ordinary cold and to keep the child at home so that this does not come into contact with other children. The virus causes fever and pressure on the body is great,” stated the minister.

Ala Nemerenco said that among the complications of viral infections are pneumonias and bronchitis and the parents should not refuse hospitalization. Almost 1,000 patients with viral infections, primarily children, have been admitted to the hospital the last few days alone.