It would be easier for children to get into rated-R movies right now than visit sick family members in the hospital.

Both Penrose-St. Francis Health Services and Memorial Health System are banning children from visiting their hospitals as part of an effort to reduce the risk of spreading H1N1 flu.

Such restrictions are being implemented by many hospitals across the country because children have proven most vulnerable in getting the flu and spreading it.

Hospital officials said any exceptions would be limited to extreme circumstances.

Penrose first announced restrictions on children 12 and younger earlier this month, but Thursday raised the age limit to include anyone younger than 18. It has also suspended a teen volunteer program, according to spokesman Johnny Rea. Memorial is instituting a system-wide restriction Monday on children 12 and younger.

Visitors with flu-like symptoms will also be barred from entry.

At Memorial, some 130 patients a day with flu-like illness have come to its emergency departments in recent weeks, nearly a third of all patients. At Penrose, about 27 people a day have come to the ER with such symptoms, or about 15 percent.

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Call Newsome at 636-0198. Visit the Pikes Peak Health blog at www.pikespeakhealth.freedomblogging.com and the Gazette’s Health page at Gazette.com/health

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