Image via WikipediaKKH sees more kids coming forward, provides free meals for their parents
Leong Wee Keat
Updated 10:40 AM Jun 20, 2009
WITH school holidays drawing to a close, the number of children turning up for Influenza A (H1N1) tests at hospitals has increased this past week - perhaps to be expected since several affected countries, such as Australia, the United States and Thailand, are popular travel spots for Singaporeans at this time of the year.
At KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH), some 13 to 14 cases per day were screened last week. The number has swelled to between 30 to 50 cases a day this week.
Over at the National University Hospital (NUH), there were 16 more paediatric patients seeking treatment for flu-like symptoms at its Children's Emergency in the past seven days than in the previous week.
With an increase in patients being warded, KKH has put in place soft touches to make life more comfortable for these children. They are allowed to bring their favourite toys and hand-held games into the isolation rooms but these must first go through checks by the nurses.
"Their (children's) main concerns so far have been that they are confined to an isolation room," said Dr Anita Menon, a consultant with KKH's department of paediatric medicine.
KKH also encourages one parent to stay with the child until he is discharged. While this means that the parent will also be quarantined, meals will be provided to them at no charge, said KKH's medical board chairman, Associate Professor Kenneth Kwek.
Nurses wear their usual scrubs at the isolation wards but have to don full protective gear before entering patients' rooms. Photo Courtesy of KKH
Over at NUH, a spokesperson said the fever facility at its Accident and Emergency ward was being expanded. The patients are isolated in rooms while seeking treatment to prevent cross-infection.
KKH has also put in place measures to ensure that all suspected cases are separated from other children.
When the child first arrives, he will be immediately taken to a special annex away from the main hospital, even before he enters the emergency ward. He will then be "fast-tracked" to allow a thorough clinical evaluation to be conducted.
The child will then be taken to an isolation room, where he "waits
comfortably" for between six to 12 hours for the tests results. If accompanied by a caregiver, the adult is required to go through the Influenza A tests too.
"Most of the results have been thankfully negative so far," said Assoc Prof Kwek.
Ready for greater surge
With schools scheduled to open on June 29, barring any unforeseen circumstances, KKH has built an additional tent in anticipation of a surge in the number of children turning up for the tests.
The hospital has also opened up more wards to deal with the increasing number of suspect cases.
Assoc Prof Kwek said KKH is mindful not to stretch its resources to the limit and is "always in discussion" with the Ministry of Health (MOH).
"If a certain point is reached, then the ministry will trigger and transfer other children to other hospitals," added Assoc Prof Kwek.
As of Friday, the hospital has some 50 cases - both confirmed and suspect cases - in its care.
Based on KKH's observations of confirmed cases so far, symptoms of Influenza A in children - such as fever - subside between "three to five days".
It then takes another two to five days before the H1N1 virus is cleared from the child's nasal secretions.
Assoc Prof Kwek stressed that there is a need to monitor them closely as "there is a slightly higher risk of complications developing" for children. "But so far, we have not seen any complications developing," he added.
From TODAY, News – Weekend, 20/21-Jun-2009; see the source article here.
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