Dr Renu Boralkar
The first wave of Corona hit the elderly population, while the second wave affected 30-60 years of age group. Also 10% of the total positive cases in Maharashtra were children, in the second wave. The third wave is predicted to affect children of 0-18 years.
Causes may be:
No Covid vaccine is currently available, most of the adults will either be infected or have been vaccinated.
Children’s immune system is also not at par with adults.
Paediatric population don’t follow S.M.S. protocol due to their childish nature.
A)How many % of children will be affected in the third wave?
We presently don’t know!
In the second wave, the children had either asymptomatic or mild infection and were treated in home isolation.
Amongst which <5% had severe Covid and post-Covid (PIMS) syndrome. (1 to 2%)
B)Monsoon season is starting, and common flu like symptoms eg mild fever, runny nose, dry cough, loose motion and vomiting will start in children.
So, how to differentiate it from Covid in child, as most of symptoms in flu and Covid are similar in initial days of both diseases.
In Covid children may have a close contact in family Covid positive and:
1. high fever > 38*c, more than 3 days
2. In between the fevers, child may be not active or be more weak.
3. Some have throat pain, increasing cough, loss of smell or taste.
4. Breathing problem
5. Sometimes dehydration, listlessness, vomiting, not eating/not breastfeeding
6. Decreased urine in 6 hours
7. Convulsions with fever.
Don’t panic dear parents…It’s in less than 5% of children.
But be alert and show child to your family doctor or paediatricians, if any of above one signs.
C)Please, hydrate the child during fever, plenty of water, ORS, proper, fresh cooked food. Only SYP/tab. Paracetamol for your child for fever.
No start self medication like antibiotics.
Don’t do CT scan of child on your own.
No nebulisation at home for cough as it spreads the virus in fumes of nebulizer.
Do Covid test, antigen/RTPCR, if doctors advise, to detect earlier.
D)Children with co-morbidities like known case of congenital heart disease, cerebral palsy, type 1 diabetes mellitus, immune compromised diseases, obesity, chronic kidney/lung/liver diseases, should be shown earliest to doctor by parents as they know their child’s diseases.
E)Post-Covid syndrome… what is it??
Child might have had Covid (mild) or asymptomatic Covid.
This child, in the first 3 months after Covid disease, may develop.
High fever, more than 3 days, along with 2 of these:
1. Red eyes, red lips
2. Swelling of hands/feet
3. Rash on body
4. Shock, cold extremities
5. Acute gastrointestinal symptoms. Diarrhoea, vomiting, stomach aches.
6. Signs of bleeding
Please, show the child to your child specialist. And don’t do investigations without your
doctor’s advise. The doctor may admit the child and tell you plan of treatment (what, how, to treat).
This is totally curable disease, if you show to the doctor, at proper time.
F] Prevention is better than cure
Follow Covid appropriate behaviour..Sanitise/hand washing..Use mask, social distancing (s.m.s protocol).
Above 5 years child, mask has to be worn while going out. Two to five years, use mask under parents’ supervision.
Don’t take child to public functions, crowded places.
Please.. parents, grandparents must get Covid vaccination, compulsorily, to have cooling effect of it to your child.
Complete your child’s routine vaccination, if missed, to protect from vaccine preventable diseases, discuss with your child specialist.
If at all schools reopen, teachers must get vaccinated to prevent spread to child. Social distancing be followed by children in classes, lunch breaks and playgrounds.
(A word of caution “don’t think all messages on social media are true, in regard of Covid, please verify from proper sources).
(The writer is senior consultant, paediatrician,
Seth Nandlal Dhoot Hospital, Aurangabad).