Jahnavi Sarma
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Written By: Jahnavi Sarma | Updated : August 20, 2021 12:08 PM IST
कई गरीब देशों में अब तक कोरोना वैक्सीनेशन अभियान शुरू नहीं हुआ है.
Since the emergence of the COVID-19 virus almost two years back, it has been universally believed that the elderly and people with underlying health conditions like diabetes and hypertension are more at risk of infection and complications than the general public. Children have more or less been safe from the pandemic. But in recent months, this has changed. More and more children are being admitted to paediatric hospitals with COVID-19 symptoms. Experts attribute this to the Delta variant of COVID-19, which has now emerged as the dominant strain of the deadly virus globally. According to a recent report from the US CDC, approximately 1800 children were hospitalised, some of whom needed ventilator support, in the US last week with symptoms of COVID-19. This is a 500 per cent jump in the rate of paediatric hospitalizations because of this viral disease since early July 2021.
Children infected with the Delta variant may be more than twice as likely to be hospitalized as compared to infection from the original version of the virus. This is what a Canadian study on the subject says. The data of this study lends support to the words of caution being issued by paediatric infectious disease experts. These warnings have been coming in as more reports are coming in of younger children with more serious symptoms.
The new development has parents and healthcare professionals worried. As we all know, vaccines are the best protection against this unpredictable virus. But, as yet, there are no available vaccines for children under 12 years of age though trials are on for the same. It may be some time before we have a safe and effective vaccine for children in the market. This leaves children exposed to infection and complications. Moreover, treatment strategies may differ for children. Almost all studies on therapies and treatments have focussed on adults. Antibody treatments are also not meant for kids.
Children who are infected with COVID-19 exhibit some common symptoms. As a parent and as a healthcare professional, you need to be alert for signs of fevers, coughs, sore throats and runny noses. If any child shows any of these symptoms, it is important to get a COVID test done. Prompt treatment can avert a crisis later on.
You need to be alert for symptoms that may indicate infection. In the absence of a vaccine for children, you must ensure that your child follows COVID protocols diligently. A face mask is mandatory as is frequent washing of hands. Teach your child the importance of both. If schools reopen, this can be a gamechanger. Other than this, all other precautions are a must. Keep your child away from public parks, playgrounds and crowded places. Avoid unnecessary meetings with friends and relatives. Even if you need to go out of the house, avoid taking your child along. This will afford some level of protection.
The overall scenario is worrying, no doubt, but one positive thing is that globally the overall risk of hospitalisation for kids with COVID-19 is still very low. In fact, only 1 child for every hundred who test positive for the virus will end up requiring hospitalisation, says the American Academy of Paediatrics.
(With inputs from Agencies)
