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Although the data shows that COVID-19 infection in children is relatively rare, doctors say that even those small patients who have not been infected with the coronavirus will feel the negative consequences of the situation.
Children and pregnant women are less likely to get sick.
Lithuania is not among the European countries where the darkest scenario of the COVID-19 pandemic has materialized. More than 1.7 thousand cases, including less than 50 cases in children of all ages.
“Cases of COVID-19 infection in children are mild to moderate in Lithuania. There are no known cases in our country that have been described in the scientific literature by doctors from other countries, such as changes similar to those of Kawasaki in children with COVID-19 infection in the United Kingdom, “says the Faculty of Clinical Medicine of the Vilnius University (VU), Vilnius University Professor at the Clinic for Childhood Diseases of the Arūnas Valiulis Institute.
According to him, until now science cannot explain why children contract COVID-19 infection less frequently and in a milder form, but the answer seems to be in the protection mechanism of their immune system, which adults do not. have. “It is notable that children of all ages, especially preschoolers, are less susceptible to this infection. The same is true for pregnant women. Changes in your body are likely to help prevent this disease, “says the doctor.
A. Valulis stresses that the frequently heard claim that children are carriers of this infection has not been proven by scientific research.
“They are in a milder form, so in theory they may not be diagnosed with the disease.” There were isolated cases of children becoming a source of infection, but researchers from the French National Agency for Public Health described it, and Professor Andrew Bush gave a lecture in Vilnius where a boy with COVID-19 infection had contact close with almost a hundred people and did not infect anything, “says the professor.
The answer seems to lie in the protective mechanism of the child’s immune system that adults don’t have.
Consequences – for those who are not sick
The professor notes that although relatively few children had COVID-19 infection in Lithuania, this pandemic had negative consequences for a much larger number of young patients.
The pandemic situation has undermined long-term monitoring and treatment of children with chronic diseases. Spring coincided with exacerbations of allergic rhinitis, asthma, or atopic dermatitis.
“Both during the exacerbation and as planned, these patients were unable to receive adequate help and had to rely on remote consultation, which is not as effective as direct contact with a doctor,” says A. Valulis, adding that in the context of the pandemic and quarantine it is necessary to talk about social problems. – The closure of day nurseries, where children not only spent their free time but were also fed and supervised, created new challenges. “Although families have spent more time together during quarantine than ever before, there are an increasing number of cases of domestic violence, psychological problems due to self-isolation, contact restrictions, etc.,” said the professor.
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The solution is individual vaccination plans.
Another negative consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health of the country’s children is the interruption of the preventive vaccination schedule for children. Following the announcement of the quarantine in Lithuania, some parents have missed their offspring’s scheduled vaccinations for one reason or another, and now they no longer know what steps should be taken to remedy the situation, and are concerned that such an interruption of vaccination do not have serious consequences for your offspring in the future.
According to the professor, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the national vaccination schedule is obvious. “Although vaccination of children in medical institutions did not stop during quarantine, in some outpatient clinics the vaccination schedule simply” collapsed “due to job restrictions or parents’ fear of visiting a medical institution. Children who have not received vaccines provided for in the national immunoprophylaxis calendar should have individual vaccination plans and be vaccinated shortly thereafter. There should be no major problems, because the delay is not long, but in each case the situation must be evaluated individually, “advises A. Valulis.
Vaccination expected.
While the disease, which has caused concern worldwide, is slowly receding, there are still fears of a second wave and knowledge of an effective vaccine. “Vaccines against the disease are likely to be developed soon, and human trials of the vaccines have already been reported. The European Union has allocated a lot of funding for the development of these vaccines, so it is expected that the public will appreciate the possibility of vaccination against COVID-19 infection ”, says A. Valulis.
According to him, it is not yet clear if such vaccines would be included in the national vaccination calendar, what would be the procedure for their reimbursement and which groups in society would be vaccinated first.
“It is unclear how much the COVID-19 virus itself can change, and how much and for how long the vaccine will be effective.” COVID-19 infection is a global problem, so when it comes to vaccination, all EU countries can have a common approach to choosing between universal and at-risk vaccination, “said the professor, adding that vaccination would be a rational step to better protect human health. Today, unfortunately, we are forced to play a kind of lottery, whether or not we can avoid the virus.
It is also important to consider other dangerous diseases.
According to experts, it is very important to be vaccinated against the flu, creating protection against this dangerous viral disease, which takes many lives in the world and in Lithuania every year.
It is unclear to what extent the COVID-19 virus itself will be prone to change.
Daiva Razmuvienė, a doctor at the National Center for Public Health, says vaccination against dangerous but successfully controlled diseases should not stop, even during pandemics or other emergencies.
“It is very worrying that due to the COVID-19 pandemic, some children have not been vaccinated with the vaccines provided by the National Immunoprophylaxis Program.” Compared to the first four months of this year and the corresponding period last year, the number of children vaccinated against whooping cough, diphtheria, and tetanus decreased by almost 15%, and for measles, mumps, and rubella , up to 50%. Missed vaccines must “catch up” and this can be done by creating an individual vaccination program for each child, “he said, adding that as the first wave of COVID-19 infection subsides, there is an urgent need to start. prepare for the challenges ahead.
“Currently, both in Lithuania and in other countries, full attention is being paid to the COVID-19 virus pandemic, but the flu virus continues to circulate and a new season is expected in the fall. There is a great need for vaccines against influenza worldwide. Lithuania is no exception, as it ordered a larger quantity of this vaccine this year, “says the expert on the situation.
Sigismund Gedvila photo / 15min / Daiva Razmuvienė
Will the second wave not coincide with the flu outbreak?
According to D.Razmuvienė, it is very important that the flu vaccine arrives in Lithuania on time and that as many people as possible are vaccinated. “We hope that the new vaccine will arrive in Lithuania in September-October.” If a large number of cases were recorded during the flu season, the health system would face a double challenge: it would have to deal not only with a possible second wave of the virus. COVID-19, but also with an influenza outbreak, “warns the epidemiologist.
Scientists trying to predict the future spread of the virus predict that another outbreak of the infection could start in the cold weather in the fall and continue through January of next year.
Professor Vytautas Kasiulevičius noted at the recent remote scientific conference of the Vilnius University (VU) and the Lithuanian Pediatric Society “COVID-19 pandemic lessons for children’s health care: when will we return to normal life?” scientists model possible viral behavior based on the history of flu pandemics. The severity of the second wave of the virus will also depend on the preventive measures taken.
The professor does not rule out the possibility that the extremely bleak prediction that the second wave of the COVID-19 virus coincides with the seasonal influenza outbreak may come true. According to V. Kasiulevičius, Lithuanians often take care of their health only when the situation worsens and get vaccinated against the flu in the winter months, when they are already furious. However, this delay can be extremely costly this year, so people need to be actively encouraged to get a flu shot. This should be done as soon as possible, then the effect of the vaccine will be the best. It is important that Lithuania can take care of the correct number of flu vaccines and enough for everyone who wants to be vaccinated.
Although the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus has been contained, scientists agree that its effects will be felt for a long time. Daiva Razmuvienė and Ginreta Valinčiūtė-Magelinskienė, epidemiologists from the National Center for Public Health, professors from the University of Vilnius Arūnas Valiulis, Vytautas discussed Kasiulevičius, Vaidotas Urbonas, Professor Andrew Bush from Imperial College University of London and Professor Ingrida Wolfe from the King’s College University of London shared their experience and insights on the impact of the pandemic on specialized medical care for children.
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