Extra paediatricians drafted in as flu season impacts children's hospitals

Auckland's children's hospitals are experiencing one of their busiest flu seasons in years. Extra paediatricians are being drafted in to assist, and elective procedures continue to be deferred to make space for acutely unwell children.

PHF Science data indicates that approximately 70 children with the most severe respiratory symptoms have been admitted each week for the last four weeks to Starship and KidzFirst hospitals. This represents an 85% increase in such admissions since the end of July. These figures only cover the most severe cases and do not include all emergency presentations or other respiratory hospitalisations.

South Auckland paediatrician Dame Teuila Percival stated that the winter has been the busiest she can remember. Children are presenting with symptoms including dehydration, vomiting, diarrhoea, difficulty breathing, and confusion from fever. Some children have required intensive care due to the need for high levels of breathing support.

Dame Teuila noted that many of the sickest children are Māori or Pasifika. While the flu vaccine was recently made free for children under five, she suggested it should be free for everyone next winter to help prevent family-wide outbreaks. She also highlighted that primary care services require more resources to help families before illnesses become severe.

Compiled from reports by NZ Herald and Otago Daily Times.