Early treatment for Covid-hit kids can ease morbidity
image for illustrative purpose
New Delhi Early diagnosis of Multisystem inflammatory syndrome, a coronavirus-linked disease, in children can significantly reduce morbidity, say healthcare experts as they advise parents and caregivers not to take fever among the kids lightly. Experts say some children with asymptomatic or mild Covid-19 have also developed this disease. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a serious condition that is usually seen two to four weeks after getting infected by the novel coronavirus infection and infants as young as two months old have reported this disease. The government has also cautioned that even though Covid-19 has not taken a serious shape among children till now, its impact can increase among them if there is a change in virus behaviour or epidemiology dynamics, and steps are being taken to strengthen preparedness to deal with any such situation.
A national expert group has been formed to review Covid-19 infections in children and approach the pandemic in a renewed way so as to strengthen the nation's preparedness, NITI Aayog Member (Health) V K Paul had said at a press conference last week. According to the experts, early diagnosis of Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children can significantly reduce morbidity and the condition can be treated well with therapies like steroids.
They also advise parents and caregivers to not take fever in their children lightly as some children who had asymptomatic Covid-19 have also developed MIS-C. Anurag Agarwal, Professor, Pediatrics, Maulana Azad Medical College and Lok Nayak Hospital says most children who become infected by Covid-19 have only mild illness, but in children who go on to develop MIS-C, some organs and tissues such as the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, digestive system, brain, skin or eyes, become severely inflamed. "Any child presenting with three days of fever with signs of at least two organ involvement, for instance, diarrhea, vomiting, breathlessness, fatigue, rashes, conjunctivitis etc, with the history of Covid infection or contact to Covid patient, should report to a doctor immediately for further evaluation."
