Severe coronavirus in kids: 1 in 3 kids with MIS require hospitalization, all you need to know about the same

COVID-19 might impact adults in a profound manner, but it is still largely believed that kids are not severely affected by COVID-19. Neither do they run the risk of hospitalization and severity. However, that may not be so true.

New studies have pointed out evidence which suggest otherwise. According to a recently published study, a large percentage of kids can get hospitalized because of COVID-19 complications, especially MIS (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome), which can be fatal as well.

Here's what we know so far about this:

Although otherwise believed, kids can fall prey to the complications associated with coronavirus and develop severe symptoms too.

Even though there is not enough documented proof about this right now, but doctors have repeatedly asserted that the novel coronavirus is just as risky for the kids, as it for the adults.

Latest findings from the Journal of Tropical Pediatrics (JTP) have suggested that nearly 1 in 3 children who develop severe COVID-19 require acute hospitalization and intensive care and run the risk of developing complications- some of which can be fatal as well.

It was also observed that nearly 49% of the kids who were hospitalized with COVID suffered from MIS, which is one of the most dreaded complications.

Ever since COVID-19 cases in kids have been brought to the light, a rare yet serious complication has been detected in sick kids- MIS, or MIS-C.

Multisystem inflammatory condition is a problem when vital organs in the body get inflamed, including the heart, lungs, brain, eyes, kidneys.

While it is still unknown the exact connection between COVID-19 and MIS, children with MIS often present symptoms similar to other inflammatory diseases such as Kawasaki Syndrome and Toxic Shock Syndrome.

The most common symptom of MIS-C, seen in most kids is a persisting fever for more than 24 hours. A lot of kids with MIS-C also suffer from complications and problems in the respiratory tract, gastrointestinal system, skin, neurological manifestations and in rare cases, blood clotting and thrombosis can occur too.

What has also been observed is that kids with MIS have a higher than usual mortality rate. Recent studies have indicated that MIS-C, with COVID-19, carries a mortality rate of 60%.

For the kids who get diagnosed in time, it can also cause a higher need for oxygen support and ventilation, much higher than the figure of adults and non-MIS patients requiring mechanical ventilation and oxygen support.

Symptoms like troubled breathing, bloodshot eyes, blueish lips, could be urgent signs for parents to rush their kids to the hospital.

Just like for adults who fall prey to severe COVID-19, kids with lower immunity and pre-existing medical conditions, including respiratory infections, diabetes and immunocompromised conditions are more vulnerable to the threats of severe COVID-19 and hospitalization.

While a lot of parents and children await making a full return to schools, it will still be a wait of more than six months for them to have a vaccine ready.

Since a lot of the currently used experimental vaccines may show altered responses when used on kids, young children have not been prioritized for vaccination drives right now.

However, researchers are currently working on testing and formulating vaccine doses which would be suitable for children.

Companies like Moderna and Pfizer have already started to enrol kids for their clinical testing. Oxford-Astrazeneca and Bharat Biotech are also formulating plans to develop a vaccine for kids. If all goes by well, it has been suggested that the earliest doses could be made available by the summer of 2021.

As neccessary a step is it to immunize kids and end the pandemic, a lot of the timeline as to when kids would have the vaccine ready would depend on the data authorities gather on the role kids play in COVID-19 spread- from transmission, symptoms and how well-suited vaccine doses will be for kids aged between 2-16.

Recent studies, however, have also found out a connection which may be able to save a lot of children from the threat of severe COVID- timely flu vaccination.

As per studies conducted by the University of Missouri, School of Medicine on over 900 kids, it was observed that the children who got the updated version of the flu shot (influenza vaccine) were less likely to get severe COVID-19 and had milder symptoms.