Corona Alert: Corona infection is spreading rapidly among children, out of 1.39 lakh ICU beds, only five percent are reserved for babies

Posted on 14th Jan 2022 by rohit kumar

The cases of corona infection are increasing rapidly in the country. Every day the graph of Corona is going up rapidly. This time the danger about the corona is also more visible because this time children are also getting infected with corona. Medical experts say that, unlike the previous waves, this time a large number of children are getting infected. In most cases, the infection is very mild, but children under the age of two are showing severe symptoms of the disease. Which can cause respiratory problems in babies.

 

 

However, at present, there are two concerns before the doctors. Rising cases of the multi-system inflammatory syndrome (MISC) in first children. This problem can appear after four to six weeks after the infection of Covid. Second, medical experts believe that there is currently no pressure on the ICU and intensive care infrastructure for children, but the system may collapse if the cases increase. This may be due to the lack of highly trained personnel, especially for child care.

 

Children's beds are being prepared since September

A few months back, the central government had advised the states to strengthen the pediatric infrastructure. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan recently said that nearly half of the Rs 23,123 crore emergency COVID response package-2 announced by the central government in August has already been released to the states. With the help of this fund, about 9,574 ICU beds will be prepared for the children.

 

At the same time, the process of improving the number of beds of children in big private hospitals of the country is going on since September. According to the Union Health Ministry, 139,300 ICU beds are available for the treatment of Covid across the country. Of these, about five percent i.e. about 24,057 beds are for children. Of the total 18 lakh beds in the country's hospitals, about four percent are for children.

 

40 to 50 children are getting infected every day

Talking to Amar Ujala, the senior pediatrician of AIIMS says that in the previous waves, where less than 10 infected children were coming to them every day, this time they are getting cases of 40 infected children a day. Many children were found infected in the first and second waves but were asymptomatic. Symptoms are more visible in children in the third wave. The number of cases of Covid being coming in children is more than that in reality. Right now many babies are coming with mild symptoms like fever, stomach problems. The intensity of symptoms lasts for two to three days, but hardly anyone needs to be admitted.

 

He said that infection among children is increasing and this also comes from the US figures. In the last wave, 2.5 children were getting infected per one lakh, while this time the figure has gone up to four. Many children were found infected in the first and second waves but were asymptomatic. Symptoms are more visible in children in the third wave. During the first wave, around four percent of children aged one to 10 years had to be hospitalized, while 8-10 percent of those aged 11 to 20 had to be admitted. A similar situation may prevail in the third wave as well.

 

Children may have respiratory problems for up to two years

In conversation with Amar Ujala, health experts say that the results of the efforts of the governments are also visible. We don't think there will be any infrastructure problem in treating children in cities. The beds of elders can also be used for the treatment of children. Equipment for newborns and infants is different, while older children may be treated in an adult's bed.

 

He said that children require special care. Skilled and expert staff, doctors are required for their treatment. Adult ICUs are not preventable for children. In such a situation, other people will be deprived of getting medical treatment. While in adults, the effect of this disease starts to subside in two to three days, in children under the age of two years, the problem of breathing can be serious.

 

Children should be vaccinated soon

Pediatricians recommend that children be vaccinated as early as possible. He says that if the world is to return to normal, one way is to ensure vaccination. Vaccination of children is important. Covaccine is a safe vaccine because it is made with conventional technology.