Sharp rise in COVID19 among children in Uttarakhand
Since April 1 this year, COVID cases among children in the 0-9 and 10-19 years' age groups in the hill state have jumped by 155% and 170%, respectively, compared to the past one year.
Experts have advised the parents to screen children from the infected individuals in the family.
In the second wave of COVID19, the hill state of Uttarakhand has registered a sharp spike in COVID19 infections in children between the age group of zero to nine years. This sudden rise is reflected in the official data of the state’s Department of Medical Health and Family Welfare, which was analysed by Gaon Connection.
Since April 1 this year, there has been a 155 per cent (or 1.5 times) jump in COVID19 cases in children upto nine years of age, as compared to the last year (March 2020 to March 2021).
Between March 2020 and March 2021, the total number of cumulative cases of COVID19 in children (0-9 years) in a year stood at 2,131 in Uttarakhand.
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However, from April 1 to May 19 alone, the state has registered 3,313 new cases — exhibiting a surge of 155.46 per cent in a period of 49 days over the past one year.
The situation is equally grim in the age group of 10-19 years. In the past one year, from March 2020 to March 2021, the state recorded 8,609 COVID cases. This cumulative caseload rose to 23,286 cases by May 19. Thus, a 170 per cent (or 1.7 times) increase in the past month and a half as compared to the last year (March 2020-March 2021).
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“It is true that the number of COVID19 infections is rising in children but the majority of these children exhibit mild symptoms like fever, stomach ache, loss of appetite, and weakness,” DS Rawat, a pediatrician, and chairperson of the Uttarakhand Medical Services Selection Board, told Gaon Connection.
Rawat went to add that some children have manifested severe symptoms like pneumonia, MIC (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children). “In the first wave of the COVID19 last year, very few children were infected with Coronavirus, but the virus has shown mutations and it can pose a serious risk for children,” he added.
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Public health experts have already warned of a ‘third wave’, which is expected to affect children the most. Some states have already started preparing for this third wave.
On May 6, the Supreme Court of India had also taken note of the experts’ opinion on the third wave in the country. While addressing Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, a bench composed of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah had stressed on the need to ensure that arrangements were made to be prepared for treating children if they begin to contract the virus, as feared by the experts.
How prepared is Uttarakhand to tackle COVID19 in children?
Uttarakhand has a population of over 10 million (10,116,752) and 6,80,310 people, which is about seven per cent of the total population, have been vaccinated (both doses) so far.
Anoop Nautiyal, founder of Dehradun-based Social Development of Communities has been keeping a close watch on the COVID19 situation in the state ever since the pandemic registered its first case in Uttarakhand last year.
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“The government or the health department hasn’t issued any SOPs (standard operating procedure) when it comes to protecting children from the COVID19 infection,” Nautiyal told Gaon Connection. “What will the parents do if their child is infected, will they stay with the kid at the hospital? What will be the arrangement,” he asked.
Gaon Connection approached Amit Singh, president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), Dehradun, to assess the preparedness of the Himalayan state to treat a higher proportion of children who may test positive for the virus in the coming months.
“Private hospitals here have arrangements to treat children but government hospitals would be in shambles if the situation gets worse,” Singh warned. He also said that children’s healthcare requires a distinct medical set up.
“Along with setting up more NICUs (newborn intensive care units) and pediatric care units (PCUs), there is a need to have more pediatric doctors whose number at present is too low. The association has notified the administration about it,” said Singh.
The physician further appealed to the parents to screen children from the infected individuals in the family.
Meanwhile, taking cognizance of the treatment of children in the much apprehended ‘third wave’, the Uttarakhand government, under the National Health Mission, announced vacancies for pediatrics doctors two days back on May 18.
Rawat, chairperson of the Uttarakhand Medical Services Selection Board, informed Gaon Connection that he recently had a communication with the Director General (Health) Tripti Bahuguna about the COVID19 situation in the state.
“The DG (Health) assured that 500 beds are being set up in Haldwani and Rishikesh by the DRDO (Defence Research and Development Organisation) and a 100 extra beds are in the fray for pediatric care,” Rawat said.
“Also, Dehradun’s Doon Medical College, Garhwal’s Srinagar Base Hospital and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Rishikesh have COVID wards in substantial numbers and are equipped with facilities to treat children,” he added.
On being contacted, Virendra Nautiyal, the spokesperson of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) Rishikesh told Gaon Connection that the institute is a dedicated COVID hospital and there are separate wards for treating children infected with COVID19. “Also, emphasis has been placed on making arrangements for the mothers accompanying their infants,” Virendra Nautiyal said.
Edited by Pratyaksh Srivastava