Covid-19 may increase in children as virus changing behavior: NITI Aayog member

Taking congnisance of Covid19 disease dynamics NITI Aayogs Member Health VK Paul on Tuesday warned that the pandemic may increase in children as there is a possibility of virus changing its behaviourThe announcement raised a serious alarm as the paediatric population had no Covid19 infections fourfive months beforeAddressing a media briefing on Covid19 here Paul said a National Expert Group NEG has been formed to review the infection in children and approach the pandemic in a renewed way to strengthen the nations preparednessWhile we have been systematically reviewing scientific developments in this area the National Expert Group has been formed to take an updated view of the situationThe group has also considered available data clinical profile the countrys experience disease dynamics nature of the virus and the pandemic and has come up with guidelines which will be publicly released soon he saidAlso Read Bombay HC seeks to know steps BMC is taking to tackle rising Covid19 cases among kidsNoting that paediatric Covid19 is gaining attention Paul assured that there will be no deficiency in the care and infrastructure required for children who may get infectedNoting that Covid19 in children is often asymptomatic and rarely requires hospitalisation he however said that changes in epidemiological dynamics or viral behaviour can change the situation and increase prevalence of infectionThe virus may change its behaviour in the paediatric population The impact of Covid19 may increase in children The data has shown that a low number of children are being admitted to hospitals Were pushing preparednessNo undue burden has been placed on paediatric care infrastructure so far However it is possible that 2 per cent to 3 per cent of children who get infected may need hospitalisation he saidPaul said that Covid19 in children may take two forms In one form symptoms like infection cough fever and pneumonia may occur followed in some cases by hospitalisationIn the second case he said after 26 weeks of getting Covid19 which may mostly be asymptomatic a small proportion of children may show symptoms like fever body rash and inflammation of eyes or conjunctivitis breathing troubles diarrhoea vomiting and so onIt may not remain restricted like pneumonia affecting lungs It spreads to various parts of the body This is called MultiSystem Inflammatory Syndrome This is a postCovid19 symptomAt this time Paul said the virus will not be found in the body and RTPCR test will also come negative But an antibody test will show that the child had been infected by Covid19Guidelines are being formulated to treat this unique disease found in some children which presents itself as an emergency situation said Paul adding though treatment is not difficult it has to be timelyHe further said that vaccine trial for children is going onThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever