Srinagar, May 08: Relatively unaffected during the first wave of Covid-19 last year, a high number of children and adolescents are contracting the novel coronavirus in the second wave.
A large number of Covid-19 cases in ages more than 10 years and also between 1-8 years are being reported in the fresh surge — though most are mildly symptomatic.
Dr Suhail Ahmad Naik, President of Doctors Association Kashmir (DAK) while talking with KNO said there were only few cases mostly asymptomatic were reported in first wave, however, the second wave of Covid-19 has come with different aggression, high rate of transmission, changed spectrum of illness and is impacting kids significantly.
Naik said that as schools are closed, the kids usually contract infection from adults who go outside home and don’t follow Covid appropriate behavior.
“In second wave we have witnessed cases of bilateral pneumonia and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) which were not in the first wave,” he said.
Naik said that there is no vaccine and drugs for children as of now so extra care must be taken.
Pediatrician Dr Showkat Shifa Assistant Professor at GMC Anantnag while talking with KNO said as cases increased in general the cases of children have also increased.
“In first wave the percentage of children in positive cases was 4.2 which is now 5.8 percent,” Shifa said.
However, Shifa said that there is no need to panic as 99 percent of positive children will recover at home and hardly one percent may need hospitalisation.
“Proper nutritions is essential for all. A positive mother can feed her baby while following precautions,” he said.
Shifa said in case a parent is tested positive, it is the “most dangerous” thing to send the children to live with someone else.
“Keep in mind your child would already be harbouring the virus even though they have no symptoms, they can innocently pass on the infection to the elders where you have sent them. Hence it would be wiser to keep them in your home along with you quarantined for 14 days,” he said.
He said that in case a child tests positive for Covid-19, there is no need to rush them to the hospital and have them admitted. They can be monitored at home.
“Children are potential sources of virus and adults especially elderly people with ailments must handle children meticulously while following precautions as they can contract virus from children unknowingly which can later prove fatal for adults,” Shifa said—(KNO)