Home Articles Children are equally susceptible as adults to COVID-19, but…: NTAGI chief NK...
KEY STORY
-
Children are equally susceptible as adults to COVID-19, but are unlikely to develop a severe disease – National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation in India (NTAGI) chairman NK Arora said on Monday. Arora further said that children suffer from sore throat, cough, or cold, and in some cases, the fever can go up to 103 degrees. He, however, added that the symptoms in children typically settle in four-five days.
-
“Some children develop fever, which in some cases may go up to 103 degrees. Some also face gastric symptoms. Typically, these symptoms settle in 4-5 days,” Arora, a pediatric gastroenterologist said, news agency IANS quoted.
-
According to medical experts, children can be treated with symptomatic medicines such as paracetamol for fever, and steam to relieve congestion in the chest among others. Doctors have also observed that most hospitalizations in children are among those suffering from comorbidities and not only COVID-19.
Vaccination for children between 12-14 age group may start in March
-
Arora’s observation comes at a time when the government is contemplating to open vaccination for children between 12-14 years of age from March and a policy decision in this regard is likely soon. On January 3, the government opened vaccination for the population between the 15-18 age group.
-
This also comes ahead of the Centre’s plan to reopen schools with COVID-19 protocols. Detailed school-reopening guidelines are expected to be sent to states for reopening schools amid a declining trend in COVID-19 cases in the country. According to a UNICEF India report, parents of 33 percent of primary school children believe that the closure of schools has adversely affected the emotional health of their children.
