Doctors: Concern rising for kids

COEUR d'ALENE — Doctors at Kootenai Health on Wednesday stressed that COVID-19 is affecting young people and could take an increased toll on them.

“We are also seeing a significant population of patients that are younger than what we've experienced in the past,” said Dr. Todd Hoopman, critical care and pulmonology physician. “So again, the trend has been toward younger patients being admitted not only to the hospital, but also to the ICU.”

Dr. Jeff Shirts, pediatrician at Lakeside Pediatrics, said they have had a 200% increase in the number of COVID positive patients. They have ranged from mild to "pretty severe" illnesses.

“We have had patients admitted as young as a few weeks old, all that to teenagers with severe symptoms,” Shirts said. “COVID is definitely hitting our population hard.”

Several Kootenai Health medical professionals spoke at the 25-minute press conference to provide the latest on the coronavirus and its impact in North Idaho.

Kootenai Health had 112 coronavirus patients on Wednesday, with 43 requiring critical care as it continues to operate under crisis standards of care. There are eight patients in its overflow unit in the converted conference center.

The Panhandle Health District reported 125 new COVID-19 cases on Wednesday, with 84 of them in Kootenai County.

Dr. Vanessa Carroll, pediatric medical director at Kootenai Health, said pediatricians across the nation “are really concerned for our children.”

She said that since Sept. 16, 5.5 million children have been diagnosed with COVID and last week, more than 225,000 child COVID cases were reported.

“We recommend universal masking in schools, environmental cleaning, maintaining a physical distance of at least three feet,” she said. “If you're sick, please stay home and get tested. And obviously, please vaccinate all those who are eligible.”

According to information provided by Kootenai Health, the hospital has had 12 COVID-positive admissions under the age of 18 since July 1, and three so far in September.

It has had 33 COVID-positive admissions between ages 18 to 30 since July 1, with two of those in the past three days.

KH has had 662 COVID-positive admissions since July 1.

Most, 376, were over the age of 61.

Of Idaho’s 2,687 deaths attributed to the coronavirus, none have been under the age of 18. Thirty-four COVID-19 deaths statewide have been in the 18 to 39 age range. Most of the deaths in Idaho, 2,425, or 90%, attributed to COVID-19 were people over the age of 60.

In the PHD, 444 deaths have been attributed to the coronavirus, with 416 of those, or 94%, people over the age of 60.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics website, as of Sept. 16, over 5.5 million children have tested positive for COVID-19.

"Nearly 226,000 cases were added the past week, the third highest number of child cases in a week since the pandemic began," it said.

The academy's website reported that among states reporting, children were 0.00% to 0.25% of all COVID-19 deaths, and seven states reported zero child deaths.

"At this time, it appears that severe illness due to COVID-19 is uncommon among children," according to a statement on the website. "However, there is an urgent need to collect more data on longer-term impacts of the pandemic on children."

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's website, there have been 464 COVID-19 attributed deaths of those under the age of 17 in the U.S.

KH doctors on Wednesday said they remain concerned the virus will hit the younger generation hard if more Idahoans don’t get vaccinated and wear masks indoors or in crowds. They said some kids with COVID-19 are coming in sicker, with fevers and coughs lasting longer.

Kootenai Health can handle up to 15 pediatrics patients with COVID.

“That unvaccinated population right now, those young kids, those are the ones that we're going to see coming in in droves getting sick, even if it's not sick enough to be admitted,” said Dr. Hinah Parker, pediatric hospitalist. “It's sick enough to have to stay out of school, to have to get swab, which is traumatic for any little kid, right?"

Dr. Brook Lang, neonatologist, said "there's definitely a recommendation to vaccinate pregnant moms."

One of the other reasons for that is they are seeing babies develop COVID infections, she said.

Dr. Charlotte Weeda, KH pediatrician and chief medical officer, compared getting the vaccine to wearing a seat belt.

“It's the best way to protect our community right now, not only getting your eligible kids you know of age who are vaccinated, but also getting the adults vaccinated to help protect our kids, and masks are safe as well when worn correctly,” she said.

Pfizer and BioNTech earlier this week said that their COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11 was safe and effective. They planned to submit their data to the FDA for review soon.

Parker said she plans to have her children vaccinated when a vaccine is approved for children under 12.

She said she lives with “a very high level of anxiety” every day her daughter goes to school and her other two kids go to daycare. She said she understands many parents have doubts about vaccinating their children.

“But I ask those people to trust us and to trust people like me, who have my own children, that as soon as that vaccine is approved, we will be the first in line," she said.