Second wave of Covid-19 has stronger infection among children

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, April 10, 2021:     As India faces a second wave of coronavirus, children have now begun showing mild to moderate symptoms of Covid-19. Earlier, children, below 18 years of age, who tested positive for the infection largely remained asymptomatic.

 

The fresh surge of coronavirus cases has witnessed more paediatric cases in ages more than 10 years and also between 1-8 years.

"Children are having high-grade fever, often 101-102 degrees. The fever stays for a longer period. In the last week, I have treated16 children who are above the age of 10 years and 19 odd patients who are above the age of 10 years," Dr Dhiren Gupta, intensivist and paediatric specialist at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital in Delhi said.

CHILDREN ARE SHOWING MORE SYMPTOMS

Other symptoms being shown by children are blocked nose, abdominal pain and diarrhoea. "Previously, children were seen as carriers of the infection since they were mostly asymptomatic. But now, children are catching the infection from their parents in the current wave.

"Such paediatric cases are double than what was seen last year," said Dr Shyam Kukreja, senior director and consultant pediatrician at Max Hospital.

"Symptoms range from sore throat, weakness, fatigue, exhaustion and headache among children," Dr Kukreja said. "Also, mild to moderate fever symptoms that last for 3-4 days," he added.

"In the past, they suffered multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MISC) - that is an auto-immune disease after the child has suffered Covid. It was being reported in 1 among 1,00,000 children," Dr Kukreja said and added, "We have seen 30-40 patients in 2020. And hence paediatricians are more aware about it."

Courtesy:India Today