COVID-19 among children is creating a lot of panic. With authorities saying that the third wave is inevitable and is coming for our children, there is an urgent need to protect the most vulnerable among us. Parents naturally have a lot of questions about COVID-19 among kids and if the vaccine for kids will be available any time soon. While some countries have taken up inoculation for children, where is India with regards to protecting its future? With over 150 million children, keeping them safe is, without a doubt, a big worry.
Vaccine status
AstraZeneca, Bharat Biotech, Johnson & Johnson, Moderna, Pfizer and Zydus Cadila are conducting clinical trials for different age groups among children. None are close to getting a vaccine out at least till Q3 of 2021 in India. Here is the status.
FAQs
Here is a curated list of FAQs from different verified sources. Have edited some of them for your understanding.
Is there an increase in infection in the second wave in children?
Yes, probably because of multiple reasons:
More infectious mutants
Laxity on part of the family — COVID-appropriate behaviour was reduced
Now, PCR testing is easier to do for kids, so more kids are diagnosed with COVID-19
What tests are done if the child is suspected to have Covid?
Ideally an RT-PCR. One can do a Rapid Ag test in cases of difficulty of getting a report, but it is less sensitive. Sometimes, sampling may be inadequate, causing negative tests. Hence, even if the test is negative but the child appears to be COVID-positive, we need to treat it as positive if there is contact history. New variants are likely to be picked up with RT-PCR.
What to monitor in a child with signs of COVID (if telephonic monitoring by a paediatrician)?
Increased respiration, breathlessness, increased irritability, high-grade fever persisting for more than 4 days.
If one family is positive, should everyone including asymptomatic children be screened?
Yes, there are two reasons to do a test: < 0.1% will develop severe disease. But admission may be difficult in this situation without test reports; and to reduce transmission, for asymptomatic children, get tests done 4-5 days after the adult is positive.
Can pregnant women pass COVID-19 to unborn children?
At this time, there is not enough evidence to determine whether the COVID-19 virus is transmitted from a mother to her baby during pregnancy, or the potential impact this may have on the baby. This is currently being investigated.
Is it safe for a mother to breastfeed if she is infected with COVID-19?
All mothers in affected and at-risk areas who have symptoms of fever, cough or difficulty breathing, should seek medical care early, and follow instructions from a health care provider.
Considering the benefits of breastfeeding and the insignificant role of breastmilk in the transmission of other respiratory viruses, the mother can continue breastfeeding while applying all the necessary precautions.
More information: Breastfeeding safely during the COVID-19 pandemic
Are any of the new COVID-19 variants more dangerous for children?
So far, the evidence does not suggest that the variants are specifically targeting children, and severe illness in young people remains relatively rare. Parents should continue to encourage their children to take the same precautions as before to help prevent getting and spreading COVID-19.
What is ‘Long COVID’? Can children be affected?
Post COVID-19 condition, also sometimes referred to as ‘Long COVID,’ is a term used to describe symptoms persisting for weeks or months in some people after the initial recovery from COVID-19 infection.
More research is needed to better understand the long-term effects of COVID-19, but young adults and children without underlying chronic medical conditions, as well as those who experienced mild symptoms during acute COVID-19 infection, have also been affected. The number of children with Long COVID is unclear, but surveys suggest symptoms in children can include fatigue, gastrointestinal problems, sore throats, headaches, and muscle pain and weakness.
Children and adolescents may also be affected by multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), a rare but serious condition that appears to be linked to COVID-19. If your child or a family member is experiencing new or persistent symptoms following acute COVID-19 infection, you should consult your healthcare provider.
SOURCES
Vaccine Status
FAQS
https://www.unicef.org/stories/novel-coronavirus-outbreak-frequently-asked-questions
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