DNA Explainer: COVID-19 virus affecting more children this time - symptoms, cause and solution

Last year, in 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck the world, it was said that this virus mostly affects the elderly and people with co-morbidities. However, as we face a fresh surge in cases, the entire characteristics of the virus seem to have changed. 

It is been noted that this time around children have begun showing mild to moderate symptoms of COVID-19. Earlier, children, below 18 years of age, who tested positive for the infection largely remained asymptomatic.

Experts say that this time around, the fresh surge of COVID-19 cases has witnessed more paediatric cases compared to data of more than 10 years. The alarming part is that it also includes children in the age group of 1-8 years. 

"Previously, children were seen as carriers of the infection since they were mostly asymptomatic. But now, children are catching the infection from their parents in the current wave." "Such paediatric cases are double than what was seen last year," Dr Shyam Kukreja, senior director and consultant paediatrician at Max Hospital said to India Today.

Data from the Union health ministry shows 79,688 children have been infected in the five states affected worst by the virus. Currently, there is no vaccine for children.

State-wise data on children

In Maharashtra, 60,684 children have been infected with the COVID-19 virus between March 1 and April 4. Of these children, 9,882 are under the age of five years.

In Chhattisgarh, 5,940 children have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. Out of them, 922 children are below the age of five years.

In Karnataka, 7,327 children have been infected by the COVID-19 virus. Out of them, 871 children are below the age of five years.

In Uttar Pradesh, 3,004 children have been infected with the COVID-19 virus and 471 among them are below the age of five years.

Health ministry figures show Delhi logged 2,733 infections among children, 441 of them below the age of five years.

Symptoms among children

As per doctors, children are having high-grade fever, often 101-102 degrees.

Blocked nose, abdominal pain and diarrhoea are other symptoms in children.

Sore throat, weakness, fatigue, loss of appetite, exhaustion and headache shown in children.

Vaccine status for children

Currently, there is no vaccine for children.

AstraZeneca vaccine for testing on children in the UK has been suspended over reports of the vaccine being linked to blood clotting.

Moderna Inc. and Pfizer are racing up to test their vaccine shots on children.

Moderna is reportedly testing doses on participants aged between 2-12 years.

Pfizer has declared that its mRNA shot is 100% effective in children aged between 12-15 years.