Romania battles wave of respiratory ilnessses

In Romania, the number of respiratory infections has increased.

Ştefan Stoica, 10.01.2024, 13:50

Romania is not facing a flu epidemic, but hospital emergency rooms are struggling to cope with a large number of respiratory infections specific to the cold season. At least nine people infected with the flu virus have died since the beginning of winter. The hospital for infectious diseases in Iaşi (north-east), one of the country’s largest medical centers, reported, in addition to flu cases, a jump in the number of Covid-19 patients and even had a patient with co-infection with flu and Covid. The situation is made worse by the acute shortage of doctors.

Health policy expert, Emilian Imbri, explains: We are in a normal period. We face common colds or colds with complications. Hospitals are overcrowded because we no longer have a network of family doctors able to work extra hours. We do not have a pediatric network. Why is that? Because Romania closed down the faculties of pediatrics and the pediatric specialty no longer exists in the country. Consequently, we have doctors who are afraid of going beyond their job description, of dealing with the cases they consider too complicated, when the risk of malpractice can turn against them.

The Health Minister, Alexandru Rafila, recommended the population to first contact the family doctor in case of symptoms of respiratory virus or flu. He pointed out that a prolonged stay in the emergency room for mild or medium forms of viral infection raises the risk of getting infected with other viruses. In the case of children, doctors recommend isolation at home and the administration of symptomatic treatment, not antibiotics. Alexandru Rafila reminded that Romania is not currently facing a flu epidemic, and that the number of cases of respiratory viruses is even 25% lower compared to the same period last year.

Students returned to classes on Monday after the winter break, and doctors advised parents not to send their children to school if they have symptoms of a cold, in order to prevent the spread of viruses, and advised them to seek the help of their family doctor. Teaching and non-teaching staff with respiratory symptoms must also avoid going to work. Doctors expect an increase in the number of patients in the upcoming period and recommend a diet rich in vitamins to increase immunity. Prevention and control of respiratory infections are possible, says the Health Ministry, if hygiene measures are respected at home and at school. The teaching staff is asked to carry out a daily visual inspections of the students present in the classroom, at the beginning of classes, so as to identify possible sick student who show signs of fever or infectious disease. (EE)