Bengaluru: A seroprevalence study conducted in Bengaluru’s countryside district in June-July last year has shown that 46% of children in the age group 0-18 have been exposed to Covid-19.
Researchers from Bangalore Baptist Hospital conducted research between June 14 and July 13 with health workers conducting a home-to-home survey as a second covid wave in the state.
With their agreement, this survey was conducted in 213 boys and 199 girls in Doddaballater and Devanahalli Taluks, where the Baptist hospital had the center.
Researchers have submitted studies – ‘Covid Serosurvey among children after a second surge in rural districts in South India’ – to Plos One, an international scientific journal, for publication.
“The findings of the research were relieved , which leads the survey.
In accordance with research data available with TOI, the highest seroprevalence in the age group of 0-6 years at 57.8%.
While 50.4% in the 11-15 year age group showed the presence of antibodies, 43.6% of the age group 16-18 years and 35.9% in the age group 6-10 years had antibodies.
Dr.
George said the seroprevalension results among adults carried out around the same time (two weeks before the children) have shown 62% of adults have developed antibodies to SARS-COV2.
“In the cohort studied, almost one of two children have developed Covid antibodies in June-July 2021.
Most children will have asymptomatic infections.
Some of them may have mild infections, but they don’t have enough symptoms to get it tested.
Not Some were tested for Covid, “said Dr.
George.
In June 2021, a high-level expert committee for the prevention and management of the third wave, led by Dr.
Devi Shetty, recommended to the state government to conduct sero-surveillance studies to analyze seroprevalence in the age group 0-18 in the country.
It is recommended by the technical expert committee too.
However, the health welfare department and the family family have not taken it.