Covid-19: ‘Kids showing more symptoms this time’

"Children with comorbidities, like allergy and asthma, are experiencing severe infection and are at high risk. But, fortunately, most of them are recovering with medication and treatment at home,” Dr Sawhney said.

  • Published On Jan 17, 2022 at 06:30 PM IST
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NOIDA: While hospitalisation among children testing positive for Covid has remained low, medical experts said that minors are exhibiting more symptoms, like high-grade fever, sore throat and body ache, in the current wave of the pandemic compared to last year when fewer kids were symptomatic.

Associate director of the department of neonatology and paediatrics at Japyee Hospital, Dr Ashu Sawhney told TOI that while the number of children testing positive for Covid was similar to the second wave last year, this time children were symptomatic with high-grade fever, throat pain and cough persisting for more than 2-3 days in some cases.

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“Children, especially the ones below one year, are also exhibiting symptoms. Children with comorbidities, like allergy and asthma, are experiencing severe infection and are at high risk. But, fortunately, most of them are recovering with medication and treatment at home,” Dr Sawhney said.

Currently, 10 children are undergoing treatment for the viral infection at The Post Graduate Institute of Child Health in Noida.

“Most of the children admitted at the facility had come for the treatment of other diseases but found positive for Covid when tested. Children, who are visiting the OPD, are also being checked by doctors and based on their symptoms and severity, they are being hospitalised. The third wave was expected to be a little severe for the children as the vaccinations for the minors (below 14 years) are yet to start. However, we were better prepared for the situation with facilities like Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) in place”, Dr Jyotsna Madan, the director of Child PGI, said.

Dr Deepika Rastogi, a consultant in the department of neonatology and paediatrics at Ghaziabad’s Yashoda Hospital said that besides fever, throat pain and cough, many children were also experiencing problems like stomach ache and intestinal infection.

“Children, especially aged between six months and 15 years, are exhibiting symptoms though their severity can vary from case to case,” the doctor said.

  • Published On Jan 17, 2022 at 06:30 PM IST
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