EMERGENCY ROOM:THE FIRST LINE IN THE HOSPITAL MEDICAL ATTENTION OF THE PEDIATRIC PATIENT WITH SARS-COV-2 VIRUS. THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE

Abstract

The emergence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has posed great challenges for both public health and medical clinical practice since the first cases reported in Wuhan, China. Coronavirus disease (CoVID-19) is a zoonotic disease caused by an RNA virus. SARS-CoV-2 is transmitted through respiratory droplets and fomites, and it has a lethality estimated at 4%. In the pediatric population it mainly produces mild cases, but it also can cause severe cases with hypoxemia, respiratory distress, and multiple organ failure. Children have been recognized as an important disease vector than can spread disease to higher risk groups. It is fundamental to rearrange emergency department functioning, in order to achieve an adequate patient flow that reduces the risk of disease transmission. In the following, we lay out the recommendations for patient care in the emergency room.