What are the symptoms of the new Corona virus in children?
What percentage of children have symptoms of Covid-19 disease?
The answer is in a recent Canadian study.
The study was conducted by researchers from Canada, and it was published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, and presented new and striking data, which contradict the belief that most children develop Corona without symptoms.
Among the researchers who conducted the study, James A. King, Tara A. Witten, and Finlay A. McAllister, they found 6 prominent symptoms associated with children having corona, which are loss of smell and taste, nausea, vomiting, headache and fever.
The researchers said that previous research focused on children with emerging corona virus infection mainly on those who come to emergency departments, and the researchers aimed to identify the most common symptoms associated with a positive result of a corona virus scan among children in the community in general.
A "corona swab" examination (SARS-CoV-2 swab) means taking a sample from the nose or throat, for example, by inserting a stick at the end of very fine bristles to collect a sample of saliva or secretions. The sample is sent to the laboratory, and analyzed to directly detect the presence of the substance. The genetic material for RNA virus, if the genetic material is present, this means that the test is positive.
Smears
The study included children who were tested and followed up for corona infection using nasal swabs, nasopharynx, throat, or other (for example, nasopharyngeal suction or tracheal secretions), between April 13 and September 30, 2020, in Alberta.
The scientists analyzed the results for 2,463 children.
They found that among children who tested positive for Corona, only 35.9% reported that they were asymptomatic.
Scientists said that about two-thirds of the children who tested positive for Corona infection reported symptoms.
The symptoms most associated with a positive result of a corona swab were:
Suffering from "loss of sense of smell" (anosmia) and "loss of sense of taste" (Ageusia);
Any two offers at the same time.
Suffering from nausea and vomiting are also two symptoms at the same time.
Headache.
fever.
The results of the study indicate that children suffering from symptoms when infected with Corona is more common than is believed, and that there are specific symptoms associated with Corona.
According to the World Health Organization, the data currently available indicate that children under the age of 18 years represent about 8.5% of the reported injuries, with relatively few deaths recorded compared to other age groups, knowing that the disease is usually mild.
However, the organization adds, serious illnesses have been reported.
As with adults, pre-existing conditions were cited as a risk factor that exacerbates the severity of the disease and causes children to enter the intensive care unit.
Are children less at risk of catching COVID-19 than adults?
In response to the question "What is the role of children in the transmission of infection?"
The organization says that the role of children in the transmission of infection is not yet fully understood.
To date, only a small number of outbreaks have been reported among children or in schools.
However, the small number of outbreaks reported among teachers or their assistants to date suggests that the spread of COVID-19 in educational institutions may be limited.
Because children generally suffer from less severe illnesses and show few symptoms, it may be difficult to notice cases at times, and most importantly, the preliminary data from studies suggest that infection rates among adolescents may be higher compared to young children.
The organization says that the incubation period for the Corona virus in children is the same period in adults, as the period of time between exposure to Covid-19 and the onset of symptoms usually extends from 5 to 6 days, and may range from one to 14 days.