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The previous waves of the coronavirus pandemic have largely affected the elderly or those with comorbidities. This has changed now. Young and healthy people are also ill. But not only. Children can also become infected with the Delta variant, and on a much larger scale than in the previous months.
- The fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic is already spreading around the world. The number of infections is also growing rapidly in Europe
- The increases coincide with the return of the children to school
- Meanwhile, experts predict that this time the youngest will be infected much more often than during previous pandemic waves
- More information can be found on the Onet homepage.
It will be a different wave of a pandemic for children, experts predict
While adults became infected, fell ill, and in the most severe cases were hospitalized or died as a result of COVID-19 infection, the majority of children went through the pandemic unscathed. The youngest were either not infected at all or the course of the disease was asymptomatic or mild.
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However, this trend is changing during the fourth wave of the pandemic. This is due to two things. Firstly, in the previous waves, the sanitary rigor was followed – masks, distance and disinfection were more commonly used, and restrictions were introduced. Much of the learning was done remotely, so the children did not stay in large groups. This simply made the risk of transmitting the virus lower.
“A lot of people didn’t send their kids to school last year,” said Dr. Aaron Milston, a pediatrician and infectious disease specialist, told CNN. – This year there is definitely more activity, people densely, and many of these people are unvaccinated and susceptible to the virus that is spreading rapidly in the population.
The second issue is the Delta variant itself and its effect on young organisms. And this one is different than in the case of the Wuhan coronavirus or previous mutations.
– Children do not get sick as mildly as we think – explains Dr. Lidia Stopyra, specialist in infectious diseases and paediatrics, for MedTvoiLokony. – A year ago, at the beginning of the pandemic, it was said that children did not get sick or that the infection was asymptomatic. The children were also said not to transmit the virus. And it was true in that first wave. However, in the second wave, and even more so in the third wave, we had a lot of serious illnesses in children. There were also serious complications. Fortunately, they are not common, but they do occur nonetheless. So we should vaccinate children just to keep them safe.
It’s not just about COVID-19. Other respiratory diseases are also a problem
According to experts from the Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, in the fourth wave of the pandemic, not only the Delta variant will pose a threat to the youngest citizens. Already today, specialists are observing an increase in the incidence of other respiratory diseases, which were practically absent last year. The influenza virus is responsible for them, as well as RSV (the main cause of respiratory diseases in young children).
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The Delta variant itself in the context of children is problematic mainly due to its high infectivity. Many adults catch the virus, which results in an equally large increase in new cases among children. The youngest are still mildly infected in most cases, but are more frequent than in previous pandemic waves.
Therefore, specialists are alarming today that in autumn hospitals may run out of beds for young patients.
How to protect children in the fourth wave? First of all, through vaccinations
Vaccinations are the best way to protect children from the next variants of the coronavirus. Currently, preparations against COVID-19 can be taken by young people over 12 years of age. The rest of the group depends on what the adults do. If they get vaccinated, they reduce the risk of transmission and mutation of the virus, thereby protecting the youngest members of society.
One thing is certain: cases, emergency room visits and hospitalizations are much less common among children from higher immunization levels. Vaccines work, he wrote in a letter to US President Joe Biden Mark Wietech of the Children’s Hospital Association.
In addition, the principles of previous pandemic waves should continue to be followed. Masks, distance and disinfection are needed all the time. So is isolating children who are showing symptoms. So if your child develops a fever or cough, stay away from school and get tested for COVID-19. Combined with vaccines, isolation is the best way to keep everyone safe.
Do you want to test your COVID-19 immunity after vaccination? Have you been infected and want to check your antibody levels? See the COVID-19 immunity test package, which you will perform at Diagnostics network points.
Also read:
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- The third dose of the vaccine in Poland. Who will get it, when will it be announced, where to apply? [WE EXPLAIN]
- What do we know about the Mu variant? Is he immune to the vaccine? [WE EXPLAIN]
- The number of people willing to get vaccinated is falling. Disturbing news ahead of the fourth wave
- Prof. Feleszko: 40 percent vaccine opponents are people with primary or vocational education. They don’t trust the state
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