Doctor warns that DOUBLE number of sick children are attending his NYC emergency room with 300 a day - Daily Mail

Almost twice as many children are being rushed to a leading pediatric hospital in New York City than normal for this time of year — as seasonal viruses return with a vengeance.

James Schneider, chief of pediatric intensive care at Cohen Children's Medical Center in New York, has warned of an uptick in ER admissions bought on by a shortage of medications used to treat childhood ailments.

For measles — one of the most contagious human viruses yet totally preventable — a record almost 40million children missed their inoculations last year.

Pictured is Cohen's Children's Medical Center in Queens, which is seeing almost twice as many patients being admitted as normal for this time of year.

Some 260 to 300 children are currently being admitted daily, up from the 170 expected at this time of year.

An increasing number of children are arriving at hospital with respiratory symptoms and other illnesses related to RSV.

A national shortage of Amoxicillin and other drugs has seen cases rocket.

Dr Schneider told the New York Times: 'Right now, the demand related to treatment for viral infections for children is at levels I haven't seen in my career.

A record high of almost 40 million children missed their measles vaccine last year, the CDC has reported.

As of November 17, 51 measles cases in the US have been reported to the CDC in 2022.

The surging sickness comes after figures revealed yesterday that a record number of children missed their measles inoculations in 2021.

A joint report by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) found that 25 million children went without their first dose and another 14.7 million missed their second shot. .

As of November 17, 51 measles cases in the US have been reported to the CDC in 2022.

The measles vaccine is highly effective, with two doses preventing infection in 97 per cent of cases.

What's more, in addition to shortages of some of the world's most widely used antibiotics - including amoxicillin, a vital antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, respiratory infections and strep throat - pharmacies across the US have reported that kids' Tylenol too has become scarce.

According to pediatricians, many of the shortages are prescription-only antibiotics like Augmentin - a antibiotic drug that uses amoxicillin alongside clavulanic acid - and Tamiflu, the most commonly used flu medication in US hospitals, over the counter drugs have also been affected,.

Amoxicillin - especially liquid Amoxicillin - is used to treat infections in children that tend to arise alongside RSV.

Defending the supply issues yesterday, the White House's Covid co-ordinator Dr Ashish Jha told a briefing there were 'often' antibiotic shortages at this time of year. 'We still have a good amount of Covid,' he added, 'the single-most important thing people need to do is go get vaccinated.'.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has been warning of a shortage of amoxicillin since October - a common antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by viruses.

Hospitalization rates for the flu are at their highest level in more than a decade for this time of year — with 8.1 admissions per 100,000 people

Canberra had recorded 65,000 cases by May this year, more than double the 30,000 from 2019 in the year before the pandemic began

'There is a real concern the UK [and US] could be faced with a 'perfect storm' of respiratory virus infections this coming winter.'

The warning was not heeded, however, with the US not moving to stockpile drugs to treat common respiratory illnesses

Health officials have declared a shortage of amoxicillin, a vital antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections such as pneumonia, respiratory infections and strep throat

But doctors on the ground are already reporting dwindling stocks of Augmentin — an antibiotic that uses amoxicillin alongside clavulanic acid —, Tamiflu — the most commonly used flu medication in US hospitals —, and albuterol — an inhaler for asthma to relieve other lung symptoms

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) warned in October that amoxicillin was in low supply, pointing to the surge of flu and RSV cases as the culprit

Antibiotic drugs are often used to fight bacterial infections that come as a result of the flu rather than the disease itself

Many bhave attributed the spike in demand to the early surge in respiratory illnesses this year