Doctor Leonardo Aquino, director of the Los Mina Maternity Hospital. Cayenne Gonzalez/LD
Santo Domingo, DR
The director of the San Lorenzo de Los Mina Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Leonardo Aquino, indicated yesterday that between 90 and 100 children are admitted daily to the center, of which 45% are for “respiratory phenomena.”
While the other pediatric ailments are febrile syndromes (high fevers), acute diarrheal diseases, and other pathologies.
Aquino also stated that the cases of respiratory diseases “have always predominated,” mainly in hospitals, because they are located in areas close to neighborhoods and sectors where there is little awareness of “proper health care.”
He also indicated that fewer patients were admitted with respiratory ailments last year because, in previous years, the vestiges of Covid-19 and its variants were still felt.
She also revealed that the health system is taking “adequate” measures to prevent these diseases through the influenza vaccine, one of the leading “producing agents” of these phenomena. In that order, the person in charge of Pediatric Emergency, Marlene Perez, indicated that most respiratory problems are asthma or acute respiratory infections.
Half of the people consulted in the Pediatric Emergency Department of this hospital, located on San Vicente de Paul Street, Santo Domingo East, pointed out that the patients came for flu-like processes and fever, among whom two had severe congestion.
“She woke up with no strength in her body, with no spirit. She has had the flu and fever for several days,” said a mother with her little girl in the emergency room.
“Since last night she has been coughing a lot with a little cough and congestion. She is already on her third nebulization,” explained another mother named Julissa, who had her six-month-old baby with her.
Like them, other parents accompanied by their children occupied the spaces in the emergency room of this health center, seeking attention for their ailments.
At the Reid Cabral
During the tour made by journalists of this media, at least 15 patients waiting for attention at the Robert Reid Cabral Children’s Hospital were consulted. Two presented flu-like processes and congestion, while two others presented fever.
The others came for routine consultations, vomiting, stomach problems, sore throats, and other ailments that afflicted their children.