S. A. R. I.

Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) is one of the leading causes of death among children worldwide. As the symptoms of SARI are similar to COVID-19 (fever, breathing issues, etc), children with SARI are not finding it easy to get treatment or admission in hospitals. This problem is aggravated when children are from financially poor homes as the cost of treatment is high.

The cost of treatment is very high as it involves medicines, consumables, COVID-19 testing protocols, and stay of parents (in case they are outstation children). The Choice Foundation in collaboration with Little Stars Children's Hospital has started this initiative for such pediatric patients to get access to treatment and care for free. In their efforts to support these pediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic, the hospital has converted their Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit into a temporary four-bed S. A. R. I. Isolation Ward/Pediatric ICU.

The children who have severe respiratory illnesses and need admission are escorted to the segregated 5th floor which has the Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) unit, ICU, and the isolation wards housing 12 beds. The isolation ward is equipped with a dedicated X-ray machine and ventilators so that the patients requiring this equipment need not be sent to the X-ray department/ICU exposing them to infections. These patients will be treated here till their COVID-19 test results are available, and also continue their treatment as per their COVID-19 test result status. The doctors & nurses who treat these children wear adequate PPE and N95 masks.

ABOUT LITTLE STARS CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL

Little Stars Children’s Hospital is a 100-bed pediatric multi-super speciality hospital in Hyderabad, recognized by the DME, Telangana, and National Accreditation Board for Hospitals & Healthcare Providers [NABH], India. The hospital is privileged to have all the spectrum of pediatric subspecialty departments, and the following are some of the highly specialized & fully functional Pediatric Super Specialties:

Pediatric Intensive Care Unit with a state-of-the-art provision for three Negative Pressure Pediatric Isolation ICU rooms with individual AHU.
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit with a separate Septic IC.
Pediatric Nephrology & Urology with a state-of-the-art provision for Pediatric Hemo-dialysis.
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology with a state-of-the-art provision for Bone Marrow Transplantation.
Pediatric Neurology ICU with a full-time Pediatric Neurologist.

THE AVERAGE COST OF TREATMENT FOR ONE CHILD OVER 3-5 DAYS IS INR 75000

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The following children have been helped this far through SARI initiative

Enadu News Article

Shyam

Master Shyam is a 13 yrs old Neurologically & Developmentally challenged Orphan boy from Sarah’s Home, Hyderabad (SCH). The child has been diagnosed with Spastic Quadriplegia with Seizure disorder.

He was admitted on the 17th April 2020 at LSCH with complaints of mild to moderate cough since the previous day & had increased work of breathing since that morning. He was also noted to have high grade, sudden onset of fever since that morning followed by an episode of Seizure. Recent Chest X-Ray showed features of Pneumonitis & bilateral infiltrates. The Caretakers were Counseled & the child was admitted in S.A.R.I Isolation ward. He was started on oxygen support, IV Fluids, IV antibiotics & IV Antiepileptics and other supportive care. The diagnosis was Pneumonitis / LRTI & Breakthrough Seizures.

BAL was performed on admission & sent for Covid-19 testing. His tests turned out to be negative for Covid-19 and Shyam was shifted to the General Pediatric ICU on Monday the 20th of April. Currently he is hemodynamically stable on Nasal Prong Oxygen and recovering well from Pneumonia.

Chitti

Chitti is a 13 yr old Neurologically & Developmentally challenged Orphan girl from Sarah’s Home, Hyderabad (ICM / SCH). She is also known to have Severe Spastic Quadriplegia with Seizure disorder.

She was admitted on the 18th April 2020 with complaints of Moderate Grade Fever along with Cough and breathing difficulty since the previous day. The Chest X-Ray showed features of right paracardiac haziness - Pneumonitis. The Caretakers were Counseled and the child was admitted in S.A.R.I Isolation ward. She was started on Oxygen support, IV Fluids, IV Antibiotics & other Supportive care. The diagnosis was Pneumonitis / LRTI.

BAL was performed on admission & sent for Covid-19 testing. Hes tests turned out to be negative for Covid-19 and Chitti was shifted to the General Pediatric ICU on Monday the 20th of April. Currently she is hemodynamically stable on Nasal Prong Oxygen and recovering well from Pneumonia.

Aadhvik Reddy

Aadhvik Reddy is a 8 month old boy who was treated at a completely segregated Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (S.A.R.I) BMT/ICU/Isolation ward on Level 5 at Little Stars Children’s Hospital from April 16th. He is a resident of Renukunta, Karimnagar. He had been suffering from complaints of significant cough & fever since 10th april. He was put on oral medicines for a day & admitted in a hospital at Karimnagar.

He was ventilated on Day 2 of hospitalization in view of progressive Respiratory Distress, significant Respiratory Acidosis & impending Respiratory Failure. His diagnosis was Severe Bilateral Pneumonia with Atelectasis, Respiratory Acidosis & Failure and he was treated accordingly. Child was clinically & hemodynamically stable on Conventional Mechanical Ventilation in S.A.R.I ward. He was extubated to Nasal prong Oxygen on Saturday the 18th of April.

BAL was performed on admission & sent for Covid-19 testing. His tests turned out to be negative for Covid-19 and Aadvik was shifted to the General Pediatric ICU on Sunday the 19th of April. Currently he is hemodynamically stable on Nasal Prong Oxygen and recovering well from Pneumonia.

Harbaz

Master Harbaz is a 10 yr old Neurologically & Developmentally Challenged Orphan boy from Sarah’s Home, Hyderabad (ICM / SCH) with Severe Spastic Quadriplegia with Seizure disorder.

He was admitted on the 17th April 2020 with symptoms of Moderate Grade Fever along with Cough for 2 days and breathing difficulty since that morning. Chest X-Rays show features of right lower zone haziness & bilateral infiltrates. The Caretakers were counseled and the child was admitted in S.A.R.I Isolation ward. He was started on Oxygen support, IV Fluids, IV Antibiotics & other Supportive care at the S. A. R. I. Isolation Ward. His diagnosis was Pneumonia / LRTI. He was managed with Oxygen, Physiotherapy, IV antibiotics and all other modes of supportive care.

BAL was performed on admission & sent for Covid-19 testing. His tests turned out to be negative for Covid-19 and Harbaz was shifted to the General Pediatric ICU on Monday the 20th of April. Currently he is hemodynamically stable on Nasal Prong Oxygen and recovering well from Pneumonia.