HSC Childrens Hospital seeing uptick in cases of pneumonia [Video]

HSC Children’s Hospital is seeing an increase in the number of kids with pneumonia.

According to the hospital, many of these cases are bacterial, with most of the patients in the elementary school to young teen age range.

Dr. Karen Gripp, medical director of HSC Children’s Hospital emergency department, said an uptick in sickness is expected every fall.

“What we’re seeing this fall, similar to a few years ago, we’re seeing more patients come in with true pneumonia documented in a chest x-ray or an exam,” she said in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Tuesday.

Gripp said that about 20 to 25 per cent of these cases require hospitalization, noting that it’s typically because the patient needs a bit of oxygen or IV antibiotics.

She added that throughout North America, hospitals are seeing cases of atypical pneumonia, which is also known as walking pneumonia.

Gripp explained that walking …