COVID-19 Symptoms In Children: Hear From A Doctor

Dr VK Paul addressed the media about COVID-19 symptoms in children on Tuesday, June 1. He mentioned the most common symptoms as pneumonia and multi-system inflammatory syndrome found in children with COVID-19.

Dr VK Paul, an expert on COVID-19 in India and Member (Health) in Niti Aayog, addressed the symptoms of coronavirus prevalent in children. In his statement, he emphasised that the cases of children with Covid-19 are mostly asymptomatic. The infections detected among the paediatric population were not serious.

He further added, “the virus may change its behaviour in the pediatric population. The impact of COVID-19 may increase in children.” The authorities will be giving more attention to the behaviour of virus among children to see how it impacts their health.

Children with Covid-19 were detected with two most commons symptoms of pneumonia and multi-inflammatory syndrome.

#COVID19 in children has been found in 2 ways— In first they have reported pneumonia-like symptoms. In second, some cases of a multi inflammatory syndrome found among children who recently recovered from C0VID19: Dr. VK Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog

— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2021

SheThePeople talked to the Developmental and Behavioural Paediatrician, Dr Praveen Suman, Director at Child Development Clinic, New Delhi, about the symptoms in children with Covid-19.

She informed that the disease when occurred in children was mostly asymptomatic or mild with symptoms like cough, cold, pain in the abdomen and diarrhoea. Moderate and severe cases were rare in children with symptoms such as respiratory distress, chest indrawing, lethargy and poor oral intake. The most common symptom in children is fever.

“Some children can have immune dysregulation causing the multi-system inflammatory syndrome.” Dr Suman mentioned.

How can one take care of children with Covid-19 symptoms?

Dr Suman advised that children with the asymptomatic or mild disease should be managed at home with guidance from a Paediatrician. For this, covid-appropriate behaviour like wearing of mask, isolation and hand hygiene is recommended at home by her.

“Children should be monitored for warning signs such as persistent fever, respiratory distress, lethargy, dehydration, SP O₂ less than 94%.” She advised saying the presence of any of these symptoms require hospital admission immediately.

Following precautions can be taken to avoid covid-19 among children:

1. Mask etiquette and hand hygiene are most important and must be followed
2. Crowded places to be avoided
3. If any family member is infected with Covid-19, children must be separated from them immediately.