Will there be a third wave of the pandemic affecting children?

Source: The Indian Express

Covid-19 in 2020, was minor in many aspects. People got infected and though it killed many, households were spared if they practiced masking and safe distancing. This second wave in 2021 has left parents looking for information on protecting their children and the steps to take if their child, or a family member, has signs of COVID-19, or tests positive. Because once one person has got infected, virtually all members of the family have been infected. As the virus continues to evolve, a practicing pediatrician says, they are seeing 20 to 30 positive kids per week – with symptoms like cough, fever or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, muscle or body ache, sore throat.

These symptoms are very similar to adults and often confused with seasonal flu which used to be very common around this time of the year.  All this is an indication that the third wave is not waiting to happen, it is already here. Unlike the first wave, now entire households are becoming infected with the virus and is likely to impact children too.

It is important for parents to know that it is possible for anyone, of any age, to contract COVID-19 — including children as cases continue to rise, children with COVID-19 infection may be asymptomatic, mildly symptomatic, moderately sick or severely ill.

Asymptomatic children are usually identified while screening. In such cases, other than a lot of fluids and paracetamol, if they have fever should be the immediate course of remedy. 

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