Recently, the Shenzhen Municipal Epidemic Prevention and Control Press Conference reported that among the new crown virus infections in this round, children account for about 20%, of which children under the age of 6 account for 50.4% of child patients, and the minimum is 1 month old. Why is the proportion of children infected so high? Are children more susceptible to the Amicoren strain?
Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the Eight Affiliated Hospitals of Guangzhou Medical University have treated more than 100 cases of child infection. Lin Jing, director of the pediatric department of the hospital, said in an interview with Nanfang Daily and Nanfang + client that it is indeed possible to observe an increase in the proportion of children infected in clinical cases, but this does not mean that children are more susceptible to the new crown virus.
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The available data do not indicate that children are more susceptible
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + Client: Why is the proportion of child patients among the new coronavirus infected in shenzhen's current round of epidemic treatment significantly increased?
Lin Jing: Since the outbreak of the new crown pneumonia epidemic, the society has protected children relatively much, such as reducing gatherings by taking online classes and other methods, and many children have also developed good hygiene habits such as wearing masks and washing hands frequently, which has well blocked the spread of the virus. However, because the Omiljun strain is susceptible to the entire population, once large-scale transmission occurs, it is difficult to ensure that children are not infected.
On the other hand, children have lower RATEs of COVID-19 vaccination than adults. According to the current COVID-19 vaccination deployment, children under 3 years of age have not been vaccinated against COVID-19, and children under 18 years of age have not been vaccinated intensively. Due to the lack of vaccine protection, some children are at increased risk of contracting the virus in the event of an indigenous outbreak.
Southern Daily, South + Client: Are children more susceptible to the Aomi Kerong variant?
Lin Jing: Relying solely on the current data cannot directly draw conclusions. Children under the age of 5 years, especially those under 2 years old, are at high risk of severe influenza because the flu virus stays in children for longer. But covid-19 is different from the flu. Judging from the currently admitted cases of children, they are less severely ill, and the time of nucleic acid negative is not significantly different from that of adults. Whether the coronavirus is more susceptible to infecting children in its evolving evolution or makes children at high risk of severe illness remains to be further studied.
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Children are less likely to develop severe COVID-19 infection into severe illness
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + Client: What age group are mostly infected children in clinical treatment? How do symptoms manifest?
Lin Jing: Since Omilon became the mainstream strain, most of the infected children admitted to the hospital are less than 12 years old, and the symptoms after infection are very mild, generally manifested as cough, pharyngeal discomfort and dry mouth. Some younger children may have symptoms such as poor appetite, lack of energy, and vomiting.
The medical staff will listen to lung rales, imaging examinations, etc., to understand the child's lung condition at the first time. Once signs of pneumonia are found, monitoring will be strengthened to block the child's transition from mild to severe illness in time.
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + Client: In the new version of the diagnosis and treatment plan, why does the drug treatment of new crown pneumonia not cover children under the age of 12?
Lin Jing: After most new drugs are available, approval for children tends to lag behind. Because the infection rate of children at the beginning of the epidemic is low, the number of children who can participate in clinical trials is insufficient, and the children's physical functions are not fully mature, doctors need to consider practical issues such as drug safety and dosage, so there is currently no new crown treatment drugs for children under 12 years old.
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + client: How to treat children with new crown?
Lin Jing: Generally take symptomatic supportive treatment, if the child has a fever, the first will take physical cooling, and then consider the use of antipyretic drugs after the effect is not effective. At present, it seems that antipyretic drugs are still more effective for children. Children's post-infection symptoms are generally very mild, sometimes even do not need medication, as long as more rest, to ensure good sleep, you can recover quickly.
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Children within 3 years of age should go out less during the pandemic
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + client: The new version of the diagnosis and treatment plan points out that when children with new crown pneumonia have skin rashes and mucosal damage, they should be different from Kawasaki disease, why is this?
Lin Jing: Children with Kawasaki disease will have symptoms such as hyperemia of the skin and oral mucosa, rash and lymphadenopathy, and the most serious complications are coronary artery dilation and even coronary aneurysms. When a child is infected with the new crown virus, once it develops severe disease, it leads to a multisystem inflammatory syndrome with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease or atypical Kawasaki disease. In academia, there is still some debate about whether the new crown virus is a trigger for Kawasaki disease.
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + Client: How should children protect themselves during the epidemic period?
Lin Jing: Vaccination against COVID-19 is an important way to interrupt the spread of the new crown virus. Children over 3 years old should be vaccinated in a timely manner. In fact, the common adverse reactions after children's COVID-19 vaccination are similar to other vaccines, and in most cases they are very mild, so parents do not need to worry too much.
During the epidemic, children under the age of 3 should reduce their going out, avoid crowded places, and maintain indoor air circulation. After the family goes out to go home, they should change their coats and shoes in time, wash their hands thoroughly, and clean the face, mouth and nasal mucosa before they can contact the child.
Nanfang Daily, Nanfang + Client: If the child has the top ten symptoms of the new crown, what should parents do?
Lin Jing: When there is a local epidemic in the city where you live, and your child has developed respiratory symptoms such as fever, parents must remain calm, reduce visits to hospitals where patients are concentrated, and avoid unnecessary cross-infection. At this time, nucleic acid testing should be carried out in a fever clinic with low flow of people, and further treatment should be carried out after the risk of infection is eliminated.
[Reporter] Huang Jinhui
[Correspondent] Liu Qisha
【Author】 Huang Jinhui
Guangdong health headlines