Northeast Ohio pediatric hospitals are bracing for a rough stretch as influenza B tears through the region, with children’s facilities reporting a sharp jump in positive tests over the last month. Clinicians say more kids are showing up sicker than in a typical year, and emergency departments along with pediatric units are feeling the strain as case counts climb.
Akron Children’s Lab Numbers Spike
At Akron Children’s Hospital, lab results tell the story. The hospital’s laboratory logged 482 positive influenza B tests for the week of Feb. 8 to 14, out of 1,562 patients tested, putting the positivity rate above 30 percent, according to FOX 8 Cleveland. That is a steep rise from a 20.5 percent positivity rate the previous week and 13.5 percent in…..