Team Herald
PANJIM: The Expert committee on the third wave comprising government doctors and private practitioners have appealed to all parents to consult a doctor as soon as their children show symptoms to avoid any future complications.
Doctors advised parents against making self-judgements and to let the doctors determine the condition of their children if they have symptoms.
These comments came against the backdrop of how the percentage of COVID infections has increased to 10 to 12 per cent in the age group below 18 in the second wave as opposed to the 7-8 per cent in the first wave. Dr Jagdish Cacodkar said that this has been a trend across the country and not just Goa. He added that 33 newborns were infected with COVID in the second wave.
Speaking about such cases, Dr Mimi Silveira said the symptoms have been less severe and that the need for such children to be hospitalised was also quite less. She also pointed out that children who had been infected in the first two waves have recovered quickly.
The doctors also cautioned that there is a likelihood of parents getting COVID and transmitting the same to their children in the third wave. An appeal was issued to parents to get vaccinated at the earliest and they said that there is enough medical research that has dispelled all misconceptions and proved that lactating mothers need the vaccine.
On another note, doctors listed the various types of symptoms in children that would need medical attention.
Besides the flu-like symptoms like coughing, Silveira said COVID can manifest with other symptoms like diarrhoea, vomiting, rash and skin lesions. She also pointed out to another group of children that have co-morbidities, like heart problems, diabetes, obesity, kidney problems, cerebral palsy where COVID can progress a little faster.
She also gave the example of children on medication such as long-time steroids or on anti-cancer drugs where their immunity can be low.
Dr Harshad Kamat added that the primary focus of managing cases is on home monitoring of such patients if and when the third wave occurs. He stressed that whatever the situation may be, home monitoring is important.
The expert committee has recommended to the government to make available adequate stock of medicine that is applicable to children given that medicines for adult is not meant for them as well as ensuring there are enough special type of oximeters that are used for children.
Kamat emphasised on the need to ensure that there are counselling services for such mothers of babies who fall sick as parents get very stressed when their newborns and young children get COVID.
