Wiesbaden/Bad Homburg (dpa/lhe) - The situation with paediatricians and in children's clinics has not yet eased. "We take the situation very seriously," said Minister of Health Kai Klose (Greens) after a meeting with Ralf Moebus, the chairman of the professional association of children and young people in Hesse, about which the ministry reported on Friday. "The large number of illnesses due to the combination of the currently rampant RS virus and the influenza wave, which made itself felt earlier than usual, affect staff in practices and clinics who are already particularly stressed after almost three years of the corona pandemic," said Klose.
Moebus campaigned to only seek medical treatment in urgent cases and not to hoard medicines. Children and young people with simple symptoms of infection could be treated at home. Children with mild symptoms could also visit community facilities. According to Moebus, particular caution is currently required only where very young children and infants are cared for.
He also called for people not to stock up on over-the-counter medicines. "We are concerned about the lack of painkillers and antipyretic drugs for children in juice preparation. There is no need to stockpile these drugs, most children can do without them even with higher fevers." Children with pre-existing conditions should be vaccinated against the flu.
