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The health consequences remain for a long time.
As the head of the LSMU Kaunas Hospital Children’s Advisory Polyclinic dr. Marija Marengolcienė, even the mildest forms of COVID-19 in children can leave unpleasant traces on the body. “There has been an increase in the number of patients complaining of constant fatigue, headaches, gastrointestinal problems, but studies of a specific disease do not show it. Then an antibody test is done. If found, the child can be considered to have relapsed COVID-19 and the resulting health problems are a consequence of that, ”said Dr. M. Marengolcienė.
The doctor explained that when COVID-19 develops in adults, their children are often not tested if they do not feel light and sometimes do not have any symptoms. However, after about two months, parents are alarmed to see that the child’s health does not improve or even deteriorates. There is no special treatment for these children: they are given a regimen of strengthening and rest.
Oxygen therapy is also needed
More than 80 children have already been treated at LSMU Kaunas Hospital during the pandemic. Darius Varaškevičius, the head of the hospital’s emergency department for admitting children, said the most serious forms of COVID-19 occur in minors.
“We had about 10 patients who needed extra oxygen due to COVID-19 induced pneumonia. Most of them were between 12 and 17 years old, “said D. Varaškevičius.
The youngest patient at the COVID-19 hospital was a 2-month-old baby. Most are due to persistent fever, lethargy, dehydration, some with severe coughing, vomiting, and diarrhea. “Sometimes it is difficult to say if the ailments are caused by a coronavirus or if it is diagnosed on arrival at the hospital as a secondary disease,” says D. Varaškevičius.
Who is most at risk for the disease?
LSMU Kaunas Hospital Consultation for children Medical polyclinic, pediatric pulmonologist dr. Eugenijus Griška emphasized that COVID-19 presents an increased risk for children with chronic respiratory diseases, after organ transplants, immunosuppressive conditions or other comorbidities, oncological diseases.
According to the doctor, children experience the same most common symptoms of COVID-19 as adults. These include fever, dry cough, general weakness, possible gastrointestinal disorders. These symptoms are common in many other infectious diseases, and therefore COVID-19 cannot be identified without testing.
“If a child has a fever, parents should not rush to take him to a medical institution. If the child feels well enough, it is possible to observe him at home for a while. However, if he behaves differently than usual, becomes slow, it is recommended to consult a doctor for examination and treatment of COVID-19 or other diseases ”, advised Dr. E. Griška.
The doctor noted that in the event of a pandemic, parents of children are less likely to turn to doctors and medical institutions. “Although GPs pay more attention to remote consultation, in case of any prolonged ailment, it would be convenient to have a contact medical consultation,” said Dr. E. Griška.
All doctors agree that tests in schools can help control the epidemiological situation.
