BHUBANESWAR: Although there is no specific scientific pointer to suggest that children will be most susceptible in possible third wave, experts have vouched for protecting children from exposure and also keeping ready paediatric health infrastructure.
Experts from paediatric critical care said no one so far say with certainty whether the virus in third wave will become more virulent or less and whether it will badly behave with the children.
With the experts saying that instances of people getting re-infected have also come to the fore, it can’t be said the third wave will hit children only.
“It sounds preposterous to say that the first wave hit the geriatric group, second adolescent and that’s why the third will affect kids.
We also don’t know that the mutant variant of the Covid virus in the days to come will prove to be more virulent.
But, we should be well prepared to augment the child critical care and use well-trained skills for treatment of children.
We have so far been adept at adult critical care but we need to extrapolate the existing facilities into child care,” Dr Ranjan Joshi, head of the Paediatric Critical Care for Coronovirus Pandemic for south-Australia, told TOI.
Joshi further said it has been seen in many diseases in which lungs are affected in children, multi-organ involvement is almost nil whereas in adult there are instances of other organs being affected as well.
“Children have better chance of recovery.
If situation of more children getting infected arises, then no one should panic.
The skilled doctors will be able to handle it.
Most of the infected children may not need hospitalisation also,” Joshi added.
The government has put in massive preparation anticipating an imminent third wave and possibility of it affecting children.
It has started bringing awareness among the parents through video messages that contain expert views.
Dr Janaki Ballav Pradhan, senior doctor, paediatric critical care and neonatologist at AMRI Hospital here said people shouldn’t panic and spread panic about children to be infected more.
“Covid virus is affecting children now also and they are recovering well.
Our health infrastructure is equipped to address critical care need but parents need to be aware so that there is no delay in providing medical attention assuming onset of any symptom as normal flu.
They should take the kid for Covid test and then normal treatment can start if the condition is between mild and moderate.
However, as far as practicable, parents shouldn’t expose the kids to crowd or group play.
But, at the same time, they should give him or her healthy and mirthful environment,” Pradhan said.