COVID-19: Will the third wave of coronavirus be more challenging for kids?

The second wave of COVID-19 witnessed a surge in the number of kids infected by the virus. Kids who were until then being considered as silent carriers were equally prone to the virus this time and showed varied symptoms. This stirred a lot of questions among parents regarding the third wave.

Looking at the rate of coronavirus infection among kids and the non-availability of the vaccination, it is being speculated that the upcoming third wave of coronavirus will hit children the most. This has caused a lot of panic and confusion among the parents. However, the countries paediatrics association has mentioned that parents must not be scared of coronavirus as it might have no grave impact on kids. AIIMS Director Dr Randeep Guleria recently clarified that it has been said children will be infected the most during the third Covid-19 wave, but it is merely a claim without any solid piece of evidence.

The Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) has said that it is true that kids are highly susceptible to infection but the third wave of COVID-19 is unlikely to predominantly affect children.

Going by the data, almost 90 per cent of COVID-19 infection cases reported in the second wave of coronavirus, either kids had mild symptoms or were asymptomatic. This is due to the lesser expression of specific receptors to which this infectious virus binds to enter the body and immune system. This reduces the risk of developing a moderate or severe infection in kids. Indeed, kids are equally at risk of developing an infection, but the risk of severe infection is unlikely. Children are not immune from the infection, but the impact is minimal. Out of all the COVID-19 cases, only 3 to 4 per cent of the total number of kids were hospitalised in the second wave.

The country's top kids specialists have asked parents not to worry about the third wave of coronavirus, but taking precautionary measures are important to keep your little one safe. Till now no vaccination is available for teenagers and kids below 18 years, which is why they must follow COVID norms to cut down the risk of infection. The new mutant variant of the coronavirus has a higher tendency to infect the kids as compared to the previous one. Just like adults, the symptoms of coronavirus in kids are not only limited to the upper respiratory tract. Most of the kids are experiencing symptoms like high fever, chills, shortness of breath, cough, loss of smell, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, and mucocutaneous inflammatory signs. In some cases, kids don't even show any signs of infection.

As soon as the symptoms of COVID-19 appear, quarantine your child for 14 days. Get them tested for the presence of virus and keep monitoring their oxygen saturation level. As per the guideline of the Union Health Ministry, “Children with mild or asymptomatic infections with underlying comorbid conditions including congenital heart disease, chronic lung diseases, chronic organ dysfunction, obesity may also be managed at home.”

Here are some precautions that you need to take.

Separate them from other members of the family and pets.

In case the kids are too small to isolate alone, then make sure other members of the family are wearing a mask all the time.

Make your child use a separate bathroom if possible or disinfect the bathroom surfaces after every use.

Do not share utensils, dishes, bedding, towels and other things.

Advice every member of the family to follow healthy hygiene habits.