Respiratory illness fills Kalar hospital with children as cases surge in Garmian

KALAR — A respiratory illness has spread for more than a month among children in the Garmian administration in Sulaymaniyah, filling Qala Hospital in Kalar with young patients and leading to the admission of nearly 60 children daily, health officials said.

Dr. Vian Omar, a pediatrician at Qala Hospital, said the illness involves inflammation of the bronchioles and affects children each year, but cases are more widespread and severe this season.

“The illness is inflammation of the bronchioles. It affects children annually, but this year it is more widespread and children are experiencing more severe symptoms compared to previous years,” she said.

“The symptoms begin with a runny nose and a mild fever. After a few days, the child develops shortness of breath and severe coughing, and their appetite decreases.”

Omar said children under two years old are more likely to be infected, with those younger than six months facing more serious complications.

“Children under two are more frequently affected, but those younger than six months are more severely impacted. Therefore, they should be breastfed to help them recover more quickly,” she said.

She noted that the illness spreads among children and urged parents to closely monitor infants. Several critical cases have been referred to Dr. Jamal Hospital in Sulaymaniyah, but due to a lack of capacity, families have been forced to seek treatment at private hospitals.

Haris Mohammed, director of Kalar General Hospital, said, “Nearly 60 children visit Qala Hospital daily for treatment, and in the past two weeks alone, more than 600 children have received care.”