Books – Syed Metwally
The new Corona virus continues to mutate with the emergence of new mutations, and perhaps the last thing that appeared in Egypt is the dangerous Delta strain.
Dr. Mona Al-Ganzouri, Head of the Pediatric Department at Ain Shams Medicine, warned that there is an observation during the monitoring of the new Corona mutant, which is the infection of children of different ages.
And she continued, during a telephone interview with the media, Amr Adib, on the “Al-Hekaya” program broadcast on MBC Egypt: The current corona for children has intestinal symptoms, in addition to the previously known symptoms.
In this context, Masrawy contacted Dr. Magdy Badran, a member of the Egyptian Society of Allergy and Immunology, to clarify the symptoms of Delta strain in children.
Badran says: “The delta variant itself spreads rapidly and expands, and the symptoms of infection with it change, and in general the symptoms of infection with the delta variant of coronaviruses, it is still too early to know whether there are significant differences in the symptoms of infection with the delta variant versus the previous variants.”
The member of the Egyptian Society of Allergy and Immunology adds: “Coughing and loss of smell became less common with the delta variant, while headache, sore throat, runny nose, and fever are among the most common symptoms currently.”
Badran continues: “The Delta strain is more contagious and widespread than any strain of Corona so far, and affects all ages, even children and adolescents, and hospitals in Europe and America receive children and adolescents who have not been infected with Corona Covid-19 before, but the Delta strain succeeded in trapping them, and in a way Rarely, some of the injured children were admitted to intensive care rooms.”
Risk factors in children:
Those with immunodeficiency diseases, whether hereditary or acquired.
People with chronic diseases neglected to treat such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease, circulatory system, obesity and cancer.
The majority of children are not immunized and have never been infected with corona before with previous strains, and therefore this puts them in a higher risk category for infection with the virus, so the infection of children with the Delta strain has steadily increased all over the world.
Symptoms
The most common symptoms in children and adolescents are:
fever
Nasal symptoms appear
Gastrointestinal symptoms
rash
In general, children’s symptoms are mostly mild.
Symptoms may differ in children of the same family, depending on their immune responses.
Affected children have very mild symptoms if they have all of the symptoms.
Symptoms of the delta variant are very similar to those of previous strains, but with lower rates of dry cough, shortness of breath, fever, and sometimes loss of taste and smell.
As for the symptoms of delta infection in adults who received only one dose of the vaccine and were infected with the virus:
Five main symptoms are:
headache
Runny nose
Throat pain
sneezing
persistent cough
As for the symptoms of those who received two doses of the vaccine, they are:
headache
Runny nose
sneezing
Throat pain
Can we reduce the risk of infection for family members?
Vaccinate adults, and use caution when dealing with people with respiratory symptoms, including children.
We must reduce the transmission of this virus between children.
Vaccination of adults who deal with them such as teachers and everyone who works in education and parents as well.
Vaccination plays a large role in delta breed control.
In America, vaccination is the best way to prevent infection for all children 12 years of age or older.
Preventive measures are very important for children and adults, even if they are vaccinated.
The best way to protect everyone from this virus is with vaccinations. When more people are protected at home, the better for those around them, including teachers.
Regarding the new variables, if the infection rate continues to increase and the number of vaccinations decreases, we expect more variables to emerge.
As the new school year approaches, we must continue to encourage children to be safe and smart in applying preventive measures such as wearing a mask or Face Shield.
Masking children with masks
This is especially important when children are not able to socially distance themselves from others, even if they are indoors and sometimes outdoors, if they are in crowds.
Wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds continuously, and sanitize them before touching the nose, mouth, eyes or face.
Social distance must be provided for children during school meals, because they cannot eat while wearing masks.
Arranging school meal times so that students do not eat at the same time.
Physical distance from others more than a meter and a half.
Ventilation in the classroom is important. Opening windows and ventilating classrooms helps reduce the density of the Delta strain of coronavirus in schools, reduce the risk of infection, and help children understand that the epidemic is not yet over.
No need for false security:
Corona virus will continue to evolve and mutate, and the more the virus multiplies, the greater the chances of new variants emerging.
Complications and deaths are less in children, but they actually happen now, especially with immunodeficiency, and the presence of chronic diseases or genetic problems.
Multiple system inflammation syndrome in children with corona
It was rare
It increased in prevalence in the second and third waves
• In New York, the syndrome affected 2 out of every 100,000 children and adolescents under the age of 21 in normal conditions before the emergence of the new Corona, but the percentage reached 322 people per 100,000 among those infected with Covid.
• This was confirmed in Britain and India
• The serious syndrome appeared during a period ranging from two to four weeks from the date of infection with the Corona virus.
• Common signs and symptoms of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome include:
• Fever lasting 24 hours or more
• vomiting
• Diarrhea
• stomachache
• Skin rash
Eye redness
• Redness or swelling of the lips and tongue
Feeling unusually tired
• redness or swelling of the hands or feet
Emergency warning signs of multiple system inflammation syndrome in these children include:
• Inability to wake up or unable to stay awake
• breathing difficulties
• Constant pain or pressure in the chest
• Mental confusion that did not exist before
The tendency of the lips and face to turn blue
• Severe stomach pain
• If your child has any of these emergency warning signs, or becomes seriously ill with other signs and symptoms, take the child to the nearest hospital.
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