Is Omicron Infection Dangerous For Kids? Here Is What Paediatricians Say

One of the biggest fears about the third wave of COVID-19 was the prediction that it could affect children more, unlike in the past two waves.

Keeping this in mind, several states had increased the paediatric facilities anticipating an increase in the number of hospitalisations among children who are infected.

With the Omicron variant spreading rapidly, India is well into the third wave of COVID-19.

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Indiatimes spoke to Dr Neeta Kejriwal, Consultant Pediatrician, HCMCT Manipal Hospital, Dwarka about how Omicron is affecting children.

Is Omicron affecting children disproportionately as it was feared earlier?

It was feared that the third wave or the Omicron will be affecting the children disproportionately, but it is not. It is affecting equally as adults. Even in the second wave they were affected and in the third wave also children are equally affected. Not that they are badly affected, or they are worse affected than the other.

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What are the most common symptoms of Omicron in children and are these different from adults?

The symptoms of Omicron in children are the same as normal virus flu-like fever, cough-cold, body ache, and some abdominal symptoms like pain & lose motions. They are somewhat similar to adults even adults are experiencing similar symptoms.

So the symptoms may vary in severity a little but the symptoms are more or less the same as abdominal symptoms and respiratory symptoms along with lethargy, muscle pain.

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Is there an increase in hospitalization among children due to Omicron?

No, there is no increasing hospitalisation due to Omicron. Most of the people are taking online consultation. We have admitted only a few children in the crucial situation as their whole family was infected so it was a necessity and now they are receiving home treatment.

If a child is infected, at what point should he/she get admitted in the hospital?

Suppose if, the child is having breathing difficulty that means the child is experiencing laboured breathing, breathing fast, or having the saturations below 94/93, if the child is unable to take oral medications, the child is dull, persistently vomiting their signs of dehydration then we admit the child, otherwise not.

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What is the average recovery period for children?

The average recovery period for some children two-three days, while for others it's taking 5-7days as well. Children with mild symptoms can persist for longer with little cough-cold, but most are recovering within a week.

What are the things that parents should keep in mind when the child is recovering and after that?

When the child is recovering parents should provide them good nutrition, keep them hydrated, adequate rest, and they should monitor for symptoms like any high-grade fever, rash, or any irritability.

And they should keep giving them good nutrition balanced diet and progression, and if the children are 15 years or above get them vaccinated.

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Any risk of post-COVID among children?

In both the 1st and 2nd COVID waves there were post-COVID symptoms. There is the multi-inflammatory syndrome in children we had seen in both the waves, and we might see it again in the Omicron variant as well. The post COVID syndrome is mostly after four to six weeks of infection. So, after two to four weeks, we'll see whether this time they are getting post-COVID or not.

But children may get post-COVID syndrome that is a multi-inflammatory syndrome, which affects multiple systems including the brain, heart, lungs, kidneys. So, we do warn the parents that if there is high-grade fever, rash, red eyes, or irritability then be alert so we can diagnose that and treat them on time.

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How to keep children safe from Omicron?

To keep children safe from Omicron is the same - physical/social distancing, sanitization and masking. If the mask cannot be applied in very small children it is better that the adults follow all the COVID protocols at any given point.

They should avoid gathering, avoid going to overcrowded places like malls for entertainment purposes, parties should be completely avoided, and children should not be taken along.

The COVID precaution remains the same there are no extra things for Omicron, what we did in the last two years, COVID protocol remains the same for Omicron too.

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Should children get vaccinated?

Yes, Absolutely. The vaccine is showing great results for two years now and now it is recommended for children at 15 and above. So all children eligible for vaccination should get vaccinated, and whenever the recommendation comes for younger children, even parents should also get vaccinated.

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