CHILD VIRUS FILLING HOSPITAL WARD.

Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer

VAN NUYS - A surge in babies and toddlers suffering from a sometimes fatal respiratory virus has swamped the pediatrics ward and intensive care unit at Valley Presbyterian Hospital, officials said Friday.

The hospital, which typically treats between 20 and 25 children at any given time, is now caring for 47 children, filling the Valley's largest pediatric ward to near capacity. Officials attributed the spike in patients to referrals from area hospitals.

``We are getting slammed right now with sick kids with RSV - which is a virus that's really common and dangerous for little kids,'' said Kellye Pitts, spokeswoman for Valley Presbyterian Hospital in Van Nuys.

She said many of the children suffer from respiratory syncytial virus - which, according to hospital officials, is the leading cause of lower respiratory infection in infants and young children.

The highly contagious virus, common in the fall, infects two-thirds of infants and kills about 2 percent of those who catch it. Babies born prematurely or with heart, lung or immune problems are particularly susceptible.

Los Angeles County Department of Health Services officials said RSV is not a reportable illness and could provide no statistics. Local hospitals reported varying numbers of patients with the illness.

``We are seeing a lot of kids with RSV in our Pediatric After Hours Referral Center,'' said Dan Boyle, spokesman for Providence Saint Joseph Medical Center in Burbank. ``Normally, we see them in the fall - the difference is they're later this year.''

Providence Holy Cross Hospital in Mission Hills reported one incident of RSV in the last few weeks, which was referred to Valley Presbyterian for treatment.

Valley Presbyterian has room for 50 children in its 40-bed pediatrics unit and 10-bed intensive care unit. For the past two weeks, it's been running at near capacity because of RSV patients.

Hospital officials said treatment is important because there is no vaccine for the virus.

``Wheezing, or breathing that is fast or difficult, can be due to RSV,'' Dr. Peter Liu, medical director of pediatrics at Valley Presbyterian, said in a statement. ``Yet RSV may start out like a cold with a runny nose or watery congestion.

``If your child has any of these symptoms and is not eating or has a fever, contact your pediatrician or the emergency room..''