Increasing number of Serbian pediatricians on sick leave

Dr Vladislav Vukomanovic, deputy chief of the hospital told the Nova.rs portal, adding that the staff shortage could lead to major problems in the health care system once children return to school for the new semester. He said the number of different respiratory ailments would rise along with new coronavirus cases.

“The waiting rooms are crowded every day, we are working at full steam because of the large number of children with fevers, runny noses, headaches and stomach ailments,” he said, adding that a new wave of infections is underway among health care staff with no serious symptoms but with a need to isolate. The doctor said the number of children coming for examination has risen. “In just one day we had 90 children come in, twice the usual number,” he said and added that about 20 percent of them were COVID positive.

He said that there are children with other serious ailments in the Institute’s cardio, pulmonary and neurology wards.