Covid cases on rise among children in Delhi
By Lokmat English Desk | Published: April 10, 2023 05:01 PM2023-04-10T17:01:24+5:302023-04-10T17:01:24+5:30
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Covid cases among children under 12 years of age in Delhi are on the rise in the latest outbreak of the disease, according to a Times of India report.
These cases are difficult to differentiate from other influenza cases in children unless a Covid test is carried out. However, parents are reluctant to carry out the RT-PCR tests as children find them very uncomfortable and create a hue an cry.
Doctors say it is important to carry out the tests in order to ensure proper treatment and curb spread of the disease.
The report cited a doctor as saying the Covid cases in children are mild as the fever comes down in 2-3 days but the cough may persist for 2 to 3 weeks.
However, it is important to observe Covid-appropriate behaviour which includes wearing masks, social distancing, and regular washing of hands.
oms are mostly mild in the little ones, experts have warned parents to take Covid-appropriate measures for preventing spread. Considering kids are vulnerable to viral infections and diseases like RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), flu, adenovirus and Covid are on rise, it's imperative to get them vaccinated if eligible, promote regular handwashing, and wearing masks (kids over 5 years). Children who have cough, cold, stomach flu and other flu-like symptoms should not be sent to school and get tested for Covid.
Experts say one should not take the current surge in Covid cases lightly. Especially when it comes to high-risk children who have any kind of health complication like diabetes, asthma, heart disease among other issues, symptoms should be monitored closely.
"In the past few days there have been reports of children less than 15 years getting infected with Covid. The cases though are mild and not very severe. The symptoms to watch out among kids remain same as we have seen in recent times which primarily include high fever, coughing, head and body ache, fatigue, runny nose to name a few which are very similar to other flu and adenovirus symptoms.
In adenovirus though, other symptoms like redness of eyes, conjunctivitis and watery eyes can be seen through which we can differentiate between the two, says Dr. Kuldeep Kumar Grover, Head of critical care & Pulmonology - CK Birla Hospital, Gurgaon.
"Covid is a viral infection and like many other viruses, it has been around for some time. Symptoms of Covid like any other viral infection will be fever, cold, a bit of cough, stomach flu, diarrhoea, conjunctivitis, body pain etc
In adenovirus we see a little more conjunctivitis, swollen lymph nodes - these are just like tonsils that we have outside body also, lympth nodes are the tissue collections that can get swollen or painful just at the back of the neck or under the chin area.
Other thing with Covid is that the symptoms are more gradual. The fever comes in gradually and may rise later on. In common flu, the symptom onset is usually very dramatic with sudden muscle ache, fatigue and high-grade fever. So, there's no real one sign that can help differentiate between Covid and other viruses," says Dr Poonam Sidana, Director Neonatology and Pediatrics, C K Birla Hospital Delhi.
