The recent waves of virus infections surges have seen infection rates amongst children relatively rise. As per Dr. RP Chaudhary, a senior pediatrician said more infections were seen amongst children in the second and third waves than in the first. However hospitalization and mortality rates amongst this age demographic still remain low.
The infection more prevalent amongst children of ages 8-12 needs to be shielded from the adverse effects of the virus, when asked how caretakers can go about doing so Dr. Chaudhary mentions a need for urgent vaccination of this age bracket. Similarly, he also mentions the importance of more simple hygiene practices such as washing hands, sanitizing, and mask mandates to be followed better to keep the children safe.
Schools and guardians alike must now look to enforcing and inculcating these modern sanitation values in their young if they want to keep them safe.
Similarly, Dr. Chaudhary also goes on to explain the emergence of [paranoia due to winter colds inducing normal flus amongst the children, he says that the effects of COVID are much more severe than the flu, the normal flu is milder thus getting the children vaccinated and proactively testing them if they show any symptoms is the only way to quell the fear regarding the flu and the virus.
Dr. Chaudhary, who is also the director of Isan Children's and Women's Hospital in Basundhara, Kathmandu, said that the parents were coming to the hospital to check on the children suffering from cold and fever. Although some cases of COVID have been reported in this process, their case is not serious and they are being treated at home in isolation. The hospital has also informed that no such serious patient has been admitted to the hospital.
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