Covid-19 in Children: A Few Important Things to Know

by Patrick Ward Walk in Urgent Care Clinic

As schools began in-person classes last summer, data compiled by the American Academy of Pediatrics revealed that cases of Covid-19 including hospitalizations in children increased at a faster rate than among adults.

Typically young children catch and transmit the virus less than adults and they also do not suffer severe complications. Yet, the increase in cases emerging is worrisome.

According to Doctors in Arlington VA, “Health workers who have been on the frontlines of this Covid-19 pandemic will confirm that they have taken good care of children who became very sick.”

Yet, the fact that children are less likely than adults to get infected has been a puzzle for medical scientists.

According to a researcher, one of the reasons could be children already have antibodies to other corona viruses.

“Antibodies created by those viruses are acting as defense to SARS-CoV-2”.

But recent evidences seem to change this perception.

“We now have facts, which substantiate that compared to adults; children have adequate viral loads in their nasopharynx”, says a physician at Urgent care Arlington VA.

Yes it is true that because of community mitigation measures and closures of schools, Covid-19 transmission was reduced during the pandemic.

By comparing the infections post opening up of schools and child care, we may get a better understanding on why we are witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases among younger children.

It is important for us to know what the clinical presentations are, of Covid-19 in children.

Here are a few specifics put up by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The incubation period is the same as in adults. That is, 2-14 days with an average 6 days.

Symptoms can include

Fever
Fatigue
Myalgia
Headache
Cough
Nasal congestion
Loss of taste and smell
Sore throat
Diarrhea

Children may have few of the above symptoms or may be asymptomatic.

Some reviews state that 16% of the children are asymptomatic, but evidence points out to nearly 50% of pediatric infections may be asymptomatic.

Here is a word of caution.

Although the perception is children are less likely to develop severe illness compared to adults, they can still develop severe illness if they have certain underlying conditions.

According to one of the Doctors in Arlington VA, children with conditions such as metabolic complexities, genetic conditions, neurological intricacies, or congenital heart disease can be at increased risk for severe illness from Covid-19.

Children with severe corona virus complications can develop respiratory failures, acute kidney problems or multi-organ system failure.

Testing strategies are same for children and adults.

It is recommended that children with symptoms of Covid-19 should not attend school. Resuming school should be governed by CDC’s recommendation for discontinuation of home isolation.

It is heartening to note that more than half a million kids have been administered Covid-19 vaccine within a week since CDC cleared Pfizer shot for the age group.

Once children get vaccinated, they can resume safer activities that they did prior to the pandemic.