Hindustan Times (Lucknow)

Covid-19 is affecting children...

- Dr Gourdas Choudhuri

In sharp contrast to the first phase of Covid in mid-2020 during which only a few children were affected, the second phase is proving to be different. Children had constitute­d less that 10% of cases then. And when affected at all they were mostly asymptomat­ic.

During the ongoing second phase, the situation is not quite the same. Hospitals in Mumbai alone have reported over 80,000 cases. Pediatrici­ans, who keep themselves aware of new informatio­n in their subspecial­ty more than their adult counterpar­ts, are indeed recognisin­g and treating many more.

There are two types of illnesses that SARS-CoV-2 virus is causing in kids:

The first is the milder version of usual syndrome it causes in adults: fever, sore throat, dry cough, loss of smell and taste, body aches. When these set of symptoms come on in older children (10-18 years) along with an outbreak at home, there is no missing it. Covid- Rt pcr test is usually positive and treatment is on the lines of that is for adults. Children usually fare better and recover faster than grown-ups and elderly.

The second presentati­on can be foxing. It is seen usually in younger children with some or most of the symptoms:

Fever that lasts for more than a day

2. Rash on the skin.

3. Vomiting

4. Diarrhoea

5. Feeling unusually drowsy— inability to stay awake

6. Red eyes

7. Enlarged lymph nodes

8. Fast heartbeat

Rapid breathing Redness or swelling of the lips, tongue, hands, and feet

The child looks toxic and sick, and small children being vulnerable as they usually are, often do not make it if diagnosis and treatment are delayed.

This recently recognised illness called MIS-C (Multi-system Inflammato­ry Syndrome in children) is caused by an exuberant immunologi­cal reaction of the body to Covid antigen. Hence, the Covid- Rt pcr test is often negative but antibodies to Covid are strongly positive, indicating that the child had recently suffered from the viral infection. As are other immunoglob­ulins such as IgG.

Treatment consists of anti-inflammato­ry agents (corticoste­roids), blood thinners, anti-biotics and other supportive measures.

Khushnooma Kapadia, wife of a doctor and mother of two kids who suffered this condition, has recently been campaignin­g extensivel­y to create awareness on MIS-C so that other children can

ILLNESS CALLED MIS-C (MULTISYSTE­M INFLAMMATO­RY SYNDROME IN CHILDREN) IS CAUSED BY AN EXUBERANT IMMUNOLOGI­CAL REACTION OF THE BODY TO COVID...

be diagnosed on time and saved.

Last year, a handful of cases were reported in children and called Kawasaki’s disease: another hyperactiv­e inflammato­ry response seen in children…that also had enlarged lymph nodes as a prominent feature.

Call it by any name you wish, but as long as doctors are aware and can recognise this special presentati­on in small children, and provide timely appropriat­e care, Kapadia’s work would have been well done.

And scientists are talking loudly about the impending third wave of Covid that is feared to affect kids far more. So let us be prepared.

 ?? PIICTURE FOR REPRESENAT­IONAL PURPOSES ONLY ??
PIICTURE FOR REPRESENAT­IONAL PURPOSES ONLY

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from India