Hyderabad: The first wave of pandemics last year left children and teenagers suffering from Covid infections. However, this was not the case in the second wave, as a large number of adolescents, toddlers and infants, as well as elders in the family test positive for Covid and experiencing the symptoms.
In the last two weeks, such cases of large number of young people who tested positive have come to light in states like Delhi, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu. Public health officials in Hyderabad believe that one should not be surprised if a similar pattern emerges in Telangana as the state is only a few days behind on the epidemic curve compared to other countries.
Last year, there was general consensus that not many children in a family were tested compared to adults. Covid positive. Although they tested positive, the majority of them were asymptomatic. This time, however, with the high infectivity rate of the new virus, all family members, including children, are tested positive and experience their symptoms.
‘What we see is that 90 per cent of the children who come to our outpatient facilities with symptoms such as fever, abdominal pain, loose movements, vomiting, colds and coughs, test. Covid positive. This time it is more symptomatic because whole families become infected at the same time, ‘says dr. Chetan R Mundada, Chief Intensive Care Unit and Senior Pediatrician at Yashoda Hospitals, Secunderabad.
In last year’s pandemic, estimates showed that about 10 percent of the world Covid infections consist of children. This year, however, the percentage is far too high and could be nearly 25 percent, senior pediatricians said.
Several hospitals in Hyderabad received Covid positive children from nearby cities and towns of Maharashtra like Nanded and Pune, who need intensive care. Such children were less than two years old and required intensive ICU care.
At Niloufer Hospital, the state-run tertiary mother and child care institution, a majority of infants and mothers Covid as symptoms test negative. However, things could change quickly as the pandemic curve increases, doctors said.
‘We are conductors Covid tests on all pregnant women and babies who have symptoms so far and have majority are negative. However, it is an intense pandemic and things can change very quickly and that is why we have equipped ourselves to deal with it. Covid positive children, ”says associate professor of pediatrics, Niloufer Hospitals, Dr B Narahari.
Be extra careful
1. A large number of children test positive with their family members in Hyderabad
2. Many experience symptoms
3. The usual age group is 8 years to 14 years
Typical symptoms include cold, cough, abdominal pain, loose movements and fever
5. Do not ignore conjunctivitis, diarrhea, other eye infections and vomiting in children
Source: Telangana Today