Covid-19 in kids: Percentage rises from 6 to 10 in second wave

Mangaluru: A comparative analysis of the first and second waves of Covid-19 in Dakshina Kannada district shows the percentage of children affected by the virus has increased from 6.1% to 10.2%.
Out of 34,441 cases reported in the first wave of infection between March 21, 2020 and February 28 this year, 2,112 (6.1%) children below 15 were affected. Meanwhile, of the 71,403 cases reported in the second wave between March 1 and August 15 this year, 7,348 (10.2%) children of the same age group were affected, registering a more than 4% increase in the percentage. However, no Covid-19 fatalities were reported in the age group in the second wave. Four children had died due to Covid-19 in the first wave.
While 567 children below five were affected in the first wave, the number increased to 1,832 in the second wave. Similarly, while 696 children of the age group of 6-10 were infected in the first wave, the second wave saw 2,489 children testing positive for the virus. In the age group of 11-15, 849 were infected in the first wave and 3,027 were affected in the second wave. So far, out of 1,05,844 positive cases reported in the district from March 21, 2020 to August 15 this year, 9,460 (8.9%) children were in the age group of 0-15.
Deputy commissioner K V Rajendra told TOI that the district is well-prepared to face the challenges of a possible third wave, especially to manage paediatric Covid-19 cases. “While there are 75 oxygenated beds reserved for children at the Regional Advanced Paediatric Care Centre of Wenlock District Hospital, paediatric care units have been opened in all the taluk hospitals in the district. Meanwhile, training has already been given to all health staff in the district to handle paediatric Covid-19 cases. We have a sufficient number of paediatricians in government and private sectors to handle cases, in case a third wave affects children,” he added.