According to the state war room, 39,846 children aged 0-9 years and 1,05,044 aged 10-19 years have tested positive between March 18 and May 18 this year. The corresponding numbers since the pandemic began till March18 this year were 27,841 and 65,551, respectively.
The increase in deaths is less pronounced. While 28 children have died of the virus till March 18 this year, 15 more died since then till May
18. Deaths among adolescents went up from 46 to 62 in the past two months, an increase of 16. The monthly average of deaths during the second wave among children has been three times what it was before, and twice in the case of adolescents.
“Within two days of a person being found infected, the rest of his/her family is also testing positive,” said paediatrician Dr Srinivas Kasi.
In some cases, children are primary contacts of Covid patients. In most cases, they have been infected first in a family. “Children get infected easily and spread the virus as fast since they come in close contact with adults at home. Once children show the slightest symptoms, their caretakers must isolate with them,” said a paediatrician from Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital.
Dr Supraja Chandrashekar, a paediatric intensivist at the hospital, said only one in 10 Covid-infected children requires hospitalisation and the rest can be treated home with strict monitoring of vitals.
“A Covid test must be done on kids when they have symptoms like fever, cough, loose motions or vomiting. They must be isolated with a caregiver. Children must not undergo CT scans, D dimer tests or blood investigation without doctor’s advice,” Dr Chandrashekar said.
“Many parents, once infected, leave the child with grandparents. Children are Covid butterflies and spread (it) faster. Grandparents will be at risk. Parents don’t understand that kids would’ve already been infected and can remain with parents,” Dr Chandrashekar said.
Dr Kasi said that the world can retur n to nor malcy only when children, too, are vaccinated.