Makarios children’s hospital occupancy rate has reached around 90 per cent, mostly with infants and children under four being treated for respiratory infections, the facility reported on Tuesday.

Director of the pediatric clinic Dr Abraham Elias told the Cyprus News Agency there are 30 children currently being treated in the ward.

In the past few days, there has been a spike in admitted cases which is expected due to the weather, he said. He urged parents to keep children with symptoms at home, as these pathogens are very contagious, especially in children.

“There are around 30 children who are hospitalised, but quite a few are being discharged and at the same time we have other admissions. These are the usual infections that are seen at this time of year.”

He specified that most sick children during this time are suffering from upper respiratory infections such as common cold, laryngitis, otitis or tonsillitis.

However, he added that the children admitted to hospital are the most severe cases, presenting with lower respiratory tract infection, such as acute bronchiolitis, seen in infants and toddlers under the age of two.

He said parents who have an infant under two months should call a pediatrician if the child has a fever.

“If a child presents with a high fever (above 38.5 that persists) that does not come down with antipyretics, if he or she presents with a persistent cough with pleuritic cough (pain when coughing into the chest) and if he or she has decreased activity, then this child should also be evaluated immediately because he or she may be presenting with a serious respiratory infection.”

Additionally, children with chronic or underlying diseases are at risk at this time, and Elias recommended parents vaccinate them according to the vaccination schedule.

He explained that if a child with chronic diseases remains unvaccinated, he or she may possibly become seriously ill with another disease.

Asked if there are currently any cases of Covid 19 hospitalised, Elias said these cases “are isolated” with one or two children periodically appearing on the wards with Covid.