Covid spikes among kids in Kolkata below vax age – Times of India

Kolkata News
KOLKATA: The number of children affected by Covid in Kolkata has gone up over the past week with the majority belonging to the unvaccinated under-12 group. Symptoms have been varied and often confusing, say doctors, but the infection has been mild so far, with few requiring hospitalization.

While some have had very high fever with cough and cold, others have been struck by diarrhoea and mild breathing distress. With physical classes having resumed in schools, transmission could be rapid, warned experts. Several schools issued notices last week asking parents not to send in their wards if they have fever or cough.
“A fourth of my patients have Covid now, but most have a mild-to-moderate infection that is manageable at home. High fever, and cough and cold have been the most common symptoms so far. A few, especially those who have asthma, have needed oxygen support. But the infection remains mild. Since children under 12 remain unvaccinated, they need to be protected,” said paediatrician Santanu Ray.
He advised parents to test children for Covid if fever or other symptoms persist beyond two-three days.
Transmission has been rapid over the last few days, said paediatrician and Institute of Child Health director Apurba Ghosh. “While mild fever and cold have been common symptoms, the spread has been fast. It’s not worrying yet since infections have been mild in most cases. While the under-12 children remain vulnerable, the infection is actually helping generate antibodies and will act as a shield in future,” said Ghosh.
CMRI Hospital paediatrician Satarupa Mukherjee pointed that most cases have so far been manageable at home, unlike the second wave which saw a large number of children being hospitalized.
“Breathing distress triggered by a lower respiratory tract infection has been rare this time. But since those below 12 are unvaccinated, parents need to be careful. Children should not be sent to school if they have fever or cough,” she said.
Mild infections should not be taken lightly and measures are needed to check transmission, said Institute of Post-Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGMER) professor Diptendra Sarkar, “Schools have reopened, so transmission will be faster. The saving grace is that the infection has been mild so far. But that doesn’t mean it will stay so. Frequent transmission may lead to mutations, which may already be happening and turn the virus more potent. We need to be vigilant, check transmission, and screen and collect data regularly to gauge if the situation is changing,” said Sarkar.
While caution is needed, children getting affected should not prompt a knee-jerk reaction, felt Ray. “Shutting down schools is not the solution for it will have a long-term impact that needs to be avoided. Children have had long periods away from school and they need to be back on campus. Measures, like masking, not permitting students with high temperature or cough in school, and preventing them from gathering, should be taken,” Ray said.

Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/covid-spikes-among-kids-in-kolkata-below-vax-age/articleshow/92664038.cms