Number Of Children Testing Positive For COVID Is Alarmingly High In Second Wave; What We Know

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve, a new, worrying trend is emerging in India. Across the country, there has been an increase in the number of children and young adults testing positive for the COVID-19.

This is unlike what happened during the first wave of the outbreak when it was told that children are comparatively safe.

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Worrying numbers

In Haryana, 41,324 people have been tested positive for Covid-19 between March 15 and April 11, out of which, 3,445 were children below the age of 10.

And in Delhi, out of the 2,733 children who were infected, 441 of them below the age of five years.

The figures are worrying other places too. In Maharashtra, 60,684 children were infected with COVID between 1 March and 4 April.

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In Chhattisgarh, 5,940 children had tested positive for COVID-19 during the same period and 922 of them are below the age of five. In Karnataka, a total of 7,327 children had tested positive for COVID-19. In Uttar Pradesh, 3,004 children including 471 below five had tested positive for COVID-19 during the second wave.

Double mutation

According to Dr Subash Rao, Consultant Pediatrician at Reliance Hospital and Fortis Hospital, Navi Mumbai, the Covid-19 virus has undergone a double mutation (changes in genetic structure), and the current strain is highly infectious infecting many people, especially children.

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Dr Rao said that a reverse trend is being seen in the second wave where children develop symptoms before the adults.

"The second wave of Covid is known to affect the children much more than in the first wave. Also, a reverse trend is being seen that is - children develop symptoms first, and then adults are getting it from them. The difference is while in the first wave most of the children were asymptomatic, in the second wave they are coming with symptoms like fever, cold, dry cough, loose motions, vomiting, not feeding well, fatigue, loss of appetite, among other common symptoms. Few may also have breathing difficulties and rashes like any other viral fever," he said.

"Also another reason of rising infection among children is increasing exposure due to playing outdoor, travelling and inappropriate behaviour and laxity," he added.

Get tested

The pediatrician said that if a child is showing symptoms of Covid-19 infection, an RT PCR test should be done by the second day.

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"Don't delay or hesitate out of fear to do the test. Early diagnosis helps in early treatment. In case of an asymptomatic child with both parents Covid-19 positive, there is no need for a test but they should be kept in home quarantine for 14 days," he told the parents.

The doctor said if a child had a fever for two days, but recovered later, they should be home quarantined for 14 days unless they were tested for Covid-19 and their report is negative on the fifth day.

Super Spreaders

"Keep in mind children can act as silent carriers or "super- spreaders" and spread it to other children and adults, who can suffer severe diseases," he said.

He added the 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. If possible isolate the index (affected) patient in a separate room and other members who are unaffected can remain in the same house," he said.

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Dr Rao 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 after consulting the pediatrician. Watch for red flag and danger signs of breathlessness, fever beyond five days, poor oral intake, rash among other symptoms," he said.