Pediatricians confirmed a significant decrease in cases of childhood disease since the beginning of the application of "physical divergence" and the imposition of precautionary measures to combat the emerging corona virus (COFED-19), as common viruses and bacterial infections, such as acute otitis and acute tonsillitis, decreased And acute bronchitis and pneumonia in children by 70%.
The pediatrician at Ras Al Khaimah Hospital, Dr. Vishal Rajmal Mehta, told «Emirates Today» that the hospital’s pediatric department recorded a decrease in the number of respiratory infections by a rate ranging between 50% and 70% since the application of “physical divergence” last March, Diseases caused by common viruses, and acute bacterial infections, such as otitis media, tonsillitis, bronchitis, and pneumonia, have decreased as a result of staying at home and not mixing with other children in school for tele-education.
“With the spread of the Corona virus, awareness increased among parents and children about the importance of applying preventive measures to combat infection and the Corona virus together, through continuous cleansing and sterilization of hands, widespread availability of hand sanitizers, commitment to using face mask, and tireless attention to personal hygiene,” Mehta explained. This has contributed to reducing the transmission of the emerging virus and reducing the spread of other common respiratory virus infections.
He added that "distance learning" and staying at home succeeded in reducing the interaction between children and preventing the spread of harmful germs among them, pointing out that most of the other common respiratory viruses spread through the respiratory system, and that the possibility of infection is the result of mixing with sick children.
"The high rate of respiratory infections in children who attend day care or early education is higher than children living in homes," Mehta said, adding that "the rate of infectious disease children decreased during the closing period of crowded places, schools, and recreational areas."
In turn, the family medicine specialist at the Ministry of Health, Dr. Adel Al-Sajwani, stated that “children’s diseases and common school students recorded a remarkable decrease in the number of visits to medical clinics”, attributing this to “the fear of many families from going to clinics, due to the spread of the Corona virus, and concern Not to endanger themselves or their children. ”
He added: «Common diseases during the school period include headaches due to insufficient sleep, eye diseases, lack of vision in the classroom, stomach upset, stomach discomfort, and stomach pain as a result of an improper diet.
He explained that «health clinics witnessed a decrease in respiratory diseases in children, such as colds, bronchitis and tonsils. Also, skin diseases, allergies, enzymes, and dehydration decreased, pointing out that “the decrease in the number of infections in some diseases is caused by the child not being exposed to fatigue, headache, or eating in restaurants. The commitment to stay at home and the children's habitual eating of healthy meals contributed to maintaining their safety and protecting them from intestinal diseases.
He pointed out that «the precautionary measures during the period (Corona) contributed to the decline of all infectious diseases and viruses, and not only the Corona virus, and sterilization of hands and wearing masks were essential to strengthening immunity.
The consultant pediatrician for infectious diseases and immunology, Dr. Hussam Al-Tatari, said that the physical separation helped families to know the correct methods to protect their children from infectious diseases.
He continued: «Among the diseases and viruses that were prevalent in children with colds and intestinal and skin diseases, as a result of participation in eating, games and physical contact between children, except that the application of physical spacing and (distance learning) led to a clear decrease in the number of infections with these diseases.
The rate of infectious disease children decreased during the closure of crowded places, schools and recreational areas.