After coming and going, the family has been trying for a week to treat a child with pneumonia and suspected dengue fever in Londrina

For about a week, the family of little Noah Gabriel Umbelino dos Santos, just two years old, has been going through an ordeal of coming and going from home, in Parque São Jorge, to PAI (Emergency Care for Children), in Londrina. After several consultations and release for home treatment, he was admitted to the hospital in the early hours of this Saturday (4), with pneumonia and suspected dengue fever.

Still, say his mother, Victoria Cristina Umbelino, and grandmother, Elaine, doctors are trying to convince them to take the boy home. “I said that I will only accept it when they guarantee that the fever will not return”, says Victoria.

PAI has been facing problems of overload in care, which has worried not only the administration, but also the entire health system in Londrina, as shown in the report on Friday (3). With up to a thousand appointments per day, parents complain about long waits and a couple was even referred by the GM (Municipal Guard) for alleged disrespect towards a doctor.

According to Noah’s family, he and his twin brother, Gael, as well as his older brother, Caleb, aged 4, became ill in April. They sought medical help at PAI and were released, with suspected dengue fever, for home treatment. However, while the two brothers improved, Noah’s condition only got worse.

“First, it was the diagnosis of dengue; then, from a virus; then double virus. Then, the suspicion of dengue returned; of dengue hemorrhagic fever and, now, pneumonia”, lists Elaine. Since then, Noah goes to PAI, is evaluated, receives a diagnosis, is medicated and returns home to continue treatment.

However, the boy started vomiting food and medication, making home care impossible. And, with intermittent periods of fever, he suffered a seizure in the early hours of Saturday, says the family. “I ran to PAI with him and went straight to reception. With my son passed out on my lap, I didn’t want to wait,” says Victoria.

Given the condition, he was under observation in the infirmary and an X-ray examination confirmed pneumonia. However, according to his mother and grandmother, the medical team wanted to discharge him so that he could continue oral treatment at home. “But how? He vomits the medicine”, says Elaine. And she adds: “And doctors say they don’t give injections at PAI, only in other hospitals. Even so, they do not accept transferring him.”

Accompanying Noah in the emergency room, Victoria says that the boy was still unable to feed himself orally on Sunday afternoon and was not even able to remain sitting in his crib.

The report tried to find out from the Municipal Health Department what Noah’s consolidated diagnosis was; whether home treatment is appropriate for a child who is experiencing seizures; and what prevents transfer to another hospital unit.

Secretary Felippe Machado says that, as it is a personal case and due to the peculiarities of the situation presented, there would be difficulties in obtaining the data on Sunday. The ministry’s communications department said it will collect the information this Monday (6).