Why more children seem to be infected by COVID-19 and symptoms to watch out for

KEY STORY

• Is the second wave of COVID-19 impacting children and young adults more? Three out of four top pediatricians that ET Now spoke to say they are definitely seeing more cases of children with Covid-19 now as compared to last year.

• Meanwhile, there is no official data out from the government on incidents of Covid-19 among children or any severity of symptoms during the second wave.

• The Indian Council of Medical Research or ICMR says there is no evidence of the young being at greater risk in the second wave. Nevertheless, anecdotes of more children testing positive and more with severe symptoms abound.

• “Kids are presenting with slightly varied symptoms”, says Dr. Anupam Sibal of Apollo hospitals while describing the second wave. Dr. Sibal adds that children are showing diarrhea and stomach apart from cough, cold, and fever this time around.

• Dr. Tushar Maniar of Nanavati Hospital says kids below the age of ten years are showing fewer Covid symptoms. Those above ten typically show fever for two to three days that is managed with paracetamol. Among the symptoms to watch out that doctors flag off are:

  1. Fever above 102 degrees F

  2. Fast breathing

  3. Passing urine less than six times a day

  4. Child who is not eating adequately

  5. Rashes

  6. Changes in coughing patterns if already coughing

  7. Irritability

  8. New onset of headaches

  Doctors also urge children be tested if a family member is Covid positive and not wait for symptoms to appear. Pro-active testing becomes even more important if the child has co-morbidities.

• So why are we seeing more cases this time around? While there is no clear data on a higher incidence of Covid-19 in children in the second wave yet, medical experts point out a larger volume of overall cases leading to a higher proportion of children falling sick proportionally.

• Easier and more widely acceptable testing and schools and play meet that children frequented before restrictions in some parts of the country.

CONCLUSION

• Even with this, the numbers could be under-reported says Dr. Vinit Samdani of Breach Candy hospital. “For every one child testing positive there are two at home suffering”.

• He however assures that 98% of cases with kids being Covid positive settle down in 36 hours and show only mild grade fever and running noses. Nevertheless, it is important to test on the slightest symptoms.