Watch out for post-Covid symptoms in asymptomatic children, say experts

While experts had predicted more children to be affected in the third wave, the state data shows the infection rate among kids is still low. However, experts stress the need to watch out for post-Covid symptoms even if a child is asymptomatic.

According to numbers shared by the state health department, Covid-19 infection rate among children is only one per cent in the third wave. Paediatricians believe most of the cases in children are underreported due to limited testing in this age group and many families are doing self-tests without revealing the results.

Children arrive at a Chembur school, on December 15. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi

Between December 25 and January 6, over 2,400 infections were reported in children aged 1-10 years in the state. Like in the first and second waves, paediatricians in Mumbai say infections among children must be 10 to 15 per cent of the total cases this time.

Dr Bakul Parekh, paediatrician and a member of the state paediatric taskforce, said the third wave will impact all ages. "If the number of adults increases, then the number of children will also increase in the same proportion, but at present the death toll among children is negligible," he said. Dr Parekh said one should avoid taking children to crowded places and parks. "At the moment, there is nothing to panic about, but follow Covid protocols." Mumbai has 1,500 beds reserved for paediatric Covid patients at public facilities.

Though kids are mostly asymptomatic, paediatricians from civic-run hospitals said one should be on the lookout for post-Covid complications like cardiac involvement and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, a condition where lungs, kidneys and the heart can become inflamed and may turn into a life-threatening condition. "While the usual symptoms related to Omicron include an upper respiratory tract infection, like fever, runny nose, throat pain, body ache and dry cough, we suggest that parents watch for fast breathing, difficulty in breathing, dehydration, pain in the chest and lethargy. Urgent medical attention is required for such symptoms," said the doctor.

2,400
No. of kids up to 10 years in state who got Covid between Dec 25-Jan 6