The Flu Puts Pressure on the Country's Emergency Departments: "Tough Period"

The spread of influenza has increased over the past two weeks, and more people have needed intensive care due to the disease.

Earlier in the week, 29 patients had to be cared for in corridors overnight at the emergency department at Sahlgrenska University Hospital due to a lack of space, writes Göteborgs-Posten.

We are in a very tough period right now. The late influenza wave is high and came later than we expected. There has been a long period with high pressure on ambulances and the emergency department, says Maria Taranger, area manager at Sahlgrenska to the newspaper.

Many worried

At the pediatric emergency department at University Hospital in Linköping, they have seen a clear increase in the pressure on the emergency department over the past few weeks. There, it is mainly many parents who have sought care for children with diseases that can actually be treated at home, according to Karin Wester, pediatrician at University Hospital in Linköping.

Many parents are worried that their children are sick for so long; why doesn't the fever break, it must be something seriously wrong? But just like adults, children can become very sick and for a long time with influenza, she says.

Several viruses in circulation

Right now, several viruses are in circulation – such as the RS virus, influenza, and gastroenteritis – but influenza dominates, according to Wester.

It's been a while since we had an influenza epidemic as clear as this, she says.

After the pandemic, we had a really tough RS virus season, when we had extremely high pressure on all pediatric clinics in Sweden. It's a bit different from year to year which virus dominates.

At Norrland University Hospital in Umeå, the spread of influenza is mainly noticeable among the staff.

We have had many staff members who have been home sick and also many who are home and taking care of a sick child. On the other hand, we haven't seen any extra pressure on the emergency department, but it's like usual during an influenza season, says Paula Johagen, operations manager at the emergency department.