Over 13k children infected in 5 months, reveals data
Experts think the number of children infected by the virus will surpass previous year’s figures soon
There is an increase in the number of young children infected by Covid-19 in the second wave of the virus infection in Rajasthan.
According to the government data, a total of 15,201 children up to 14 years were infected from March 2 to December 31 last year. This year, however, within five months since January 1, as many as 13,119 children have already tested positive for the virus infection. The cases began to increase in April when the second wave hit the state.
Experts think that the number of children infected by the virus this year will surpass the previous year’s figures.
According to Dr Ashok Gupta, senior pediatrician and head of JK Lon child hospital, children as young as two years were infected by the virus. “Most of the children were infected by their family members. The strain is also suspected to be very infectious,” he said.
The doctors said that this year there have been many cases of severe symptoms afflicting children which were unheard of last year when the pandemic had begun to wane by
December. They said that regular physical activities are important, but many children are cooped up inside their houses because of which their physical activities are severely restricted. They said that children usually have a high immunity as they spend time outdoors and playing with friends. “There is of course an element of mental stress among children that also needs to be taken into consideration,” Dr Gupta said.
Dr Dheeraj Verma, deputy superintendent, Kanwatia hospital, said that this year certainly there have been more Covid-19 infected children compared to last year.
Parents, infected by the virus, say that keeping children safe during isolation is a very challenging task. A city-based charted accountant said that he and his wife had tested positive in quick succession early in April. “After we recovered, our 10-year-old son began to show symptoms of the same illness. It was a very difficult time because N95 masks didn’t fit him as his face shield was too big and loose to cover his face. We had to quarantine him in a room, but he spent those 20 days downcast and lonely. He has since recovered, but remains reclusive,” he added.
Earlier this month, India’s drug regulator had given nod to Bharat Biotech the permission to conduct clinical trials of its Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, on children between the age of 2 and 18.
After we recovered, our 10-year-old son began to show symptoms... It was a very difficult time because N95 masks didn’t fit him... We had to quarantine him in a room, but he spent those 20 days downcast and lonely