There is an alert in the department due to the 68% increase in children’s deaths from Acute Respiratory Infections (ARI) this year. It turns out that in all of 2024 there were 28 deaths of children under five years old and in this 2025, ending last October 18, there were 47. Antioquia is also among the 10 departments in the country with the most reports of outpatient consultations and hospitalizations due to ARI and is the second region with the most child deaths. This year almost 800,000 cases of infections have been reported of the entire population.
According to the Antioquia Health Secretariat, in addition to climate transitions, the increase in deaths responds to late access to health services, with the population being the most affected. those under five years old, indigenous people and those over 60 years old.
Marta Cecilia Ramírez Orrego, Secretary of Health and Social Inclusion of Antioquia, drew attention to the late consultations and indicated that the delay It has to do with the financial crisis that the department’s health system is having.
“We send a message to the parents and caregivers of the children to consult in time and set off the alarms. I know that the emergencies of Medellin and Rionegro They are congested, but the others are not,” said Ramírez.
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The Ministry of Health of Antioquia warns that It is important to keep in mind that the second respiratory peak of the year is beginningtherefore, the number of infected could increase.
Population at higher risk
To counteract this increase in the mortality rate, the Ministry of Health of Antioquia works with the mayors to implement the national respiratory infection control program. He also advises IPS for the provision of services.
Despite the increase in mortality, within the health sessions for children carried out by the Government respiratory infections in children under five years of age are detected in a timely manner with the support of pediatricians.
As for Medellín, The District Health Secretary indicated that there are 687 deaths due to acute respiratory infectionsof which five cases of children under five years of age are reported.
In the capital of Antioquia, adults are the ones with the highest mortality rates, since according to the Public Health Surveillance System, People between 40 and 59 years old represent 13.25% of the cases and those over 60 years old, 71.76%..
Follow these precautions
Ana Isabel Dávila, medical epidemiologist and leader of Infection Control at the San Vicente Fundación Hospital in Medellín, explained that the climate has been a determining variable in the increase in cases. The expert indicated that the arrival of the rains and the constant changes in temperature trigger cases of acute respiratory infections in the department.
“Fortunately, The vast majority of cases are mild, but it must be clear that timely attention and good care at home can avoid complications,” he expressed.
Some factors can aggravate the infection, especially if the recommendations of the treating doctor are not followed, factors such as exposing yourself to cold or rain, smoking or being around smokers, not getting enough reststopping medications early and suffering from an underlying disease in which the defenses are lower such as cancer, diabetes and obesity.
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Dávila said that basic care and recommendations can make the difference between a quick recovery and a complicated illness.
He recommended that in the event of an acute respiratory infection, the patient should rest, stay well hydrated and drink hot drinks, because this helps eliminate nasal congestion. “It is always very important to avoid self-medication, not going to the pharmacy to be prescribed antibiotics. These are not suitable for all cases and must be taken under medical prescription. “We must protect ourselves from the cold and sudden changes in temperature, because this causes the symptoms to increase,” he concluded.
There are 348 IPS that vaccinate
Entities like Comfama has offices in subregions such as the East, Southwest and Urabáand in municipalities such as La Ceja, El Santuario, Apartadó, Andes and Turbo.
In the case of Medellín, there are more than 80 vaccination points enabled, which are located in public and private IPS distributed in the 16 communes and 5 townships. In the case of diseases such as influenza, Comfama has headquarters in Aranjuez, López de Mesa, Manrique, Bello, Envigado and Itagüí.
The IPS Comprehensive Vaccination Center also offers the influenza and pneumonia vaccination service at the Medellín Center.
The authorities recommend that women less than 14 weeks pregnant wait until the pregnancy progresses to get the vaccine.
