Shayahemtov also noted that phone consultations are in high demand: "Yesterday we conducted 277 consultations. Parents are concerned about their children's condition, so they turn to infectious hospitals or the 3rd children's hospital, where there is high congestion and a risk of cross-infection. In practice, only a small percentage of patients are hospitalized — mainly severe cases; the rest are sent home with instructions to contact the Family Medicine Center." According to him, ARVI and influenza manifest as laryngotracheitis with high temperatures reaching 40 degrees.
To ease the burden on pediatric teams, calls for children are now redirected to specialized therapeutic teams for children over 6 years old. "Per day, six teams handle 104 calls. The teams hardly have time to return to the station. Of these 104 calls, 16 patients were hospitalized," Shayahemtov added.
In his observations, warm weather conditions also contribute to the rise in morbidity. "If the frost had come, we would have seen a decline. However, meteorologists forecast 12 degrees Celsius at the beginning of December, which also contributes to the spread of viruses. Sanitary doctors report that there are currently no grounds for introducing quarantine, despite the high number of sick people. We hope that three days of remote work will help reduce morbidity. Both adults and children are suffering from the illness. We try to help everyone, but physically we cannot cope with the influx of requests without delays," he concluded.
Gulzhigit Aaliyev, the chief physician of the Republican Infectious Disease Hospital, also emphasized the increase in requests and hospitalizations. "Yesterday, 385 patients approached us, of which 175 were hospitalized. Currently, there are 588 patients in a hospital designed for 500 beds. We have opened reserve beds; the majority of cases are ARVI and influenza. There is a shortage of doctors in the emergency department. Previously, with 200-300 requests, medical staff managed, but now in the evening, up to 40 patients arrive at the same time. This leads to the formation of queues. We prioritize severe patients with breathing difficulties and seizures, while those who come just for a consultation (more than 60% of them) begin to express dissatisfaction that they are not being seen," Aaliyev reported.
The chief physician also stated that no one is denied assistance and that patients are hospitalized when necessary. "In addition to ARVI, we also have other infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, whooping cough, and meningitis. We accept patients with these diseases in specialized offices, but many think that we only have one or two doctors working," he added. According to him, when symptoms of a cold appear, it is recommended to contact the Family Medicine Center and avoid self-medication.
According to operational information from the Department of Disease Prevention and State Sanitary and Epidemiological Surveillance, from November 17 to 23, there were 13,054 cases of ARVI and influenza registered in the republic, which is 1.6 times higher compared to the previous week. Of all the sick, 69.4% are children under 14 years old (9,055 cases).
Laboratory studies showed that among the identified cases, the circulating strains are influenza A/H3N2 (Hong Kong flu) — 91.3%, B — 3.8%, COVID-19 — 4.8%. Acute respiratory viral infections were also identified: rhinovirus — 28.9%, adenovirus — 24.4%, parainfluenza I-IV — 20%, RSV — 6.7%, others — 20%.
The working hours of Family Medicine Centers on weekdays have been extended until 8:00 PM.
The photo on the main page is for illustrative purposes.
