Friday 07 / February / 2025
Muscat: Children are exposed to different infectious diseases throughout the seasons, where respiratory infections are most frequent during cold seasons due to the droplets in the closed areas.
Dr Badriya Al-Wa'ili, Senior Consultant of Pediatric Infectious Disease at the Royal Hospital clarified that the number of children infected with respiratory viral infections is increased in the northern areas of the globe during October and November and last till April or May of each year. Children under 2-year are the most vulnerable to infection for their insufficient immune. About 34% of children in this age infected with influenza are admitted to hospitals. Noting that the Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and seasonal flu virus are the most common viruses among children.
Al-Wa'ili added that children infected with several infections during summer including intestinal infections, meningitis, mouth & foot syndrome, in which the enterovirus is the main cause of these diseases.
Furthermore, Dr Badriya stressed that exposing children to COVID-19 is less than adults, by as much as 7% of the total infected cases. About 30% of children over 10 years of age and those less than a year old are most vulnerable to COVID-19. Admission ratio for children may reach 2.5% to 4.1%, while less than 1% in ICU.
Dr Badriya explained that COVID-19 symptoms among children are not different from other respiratory viruses. The distinction between COVID-19 symptoms and more than 90% of mild symptoms including fever, flu, cough, headache and weakness is not easy. The symptoms may vary from one child to another.
In addition, Dr Badriya stressed that Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is one of the serious complications that the child infected with COVID-19 may expose. Symptoms may develop after weeks of the onset of COVID-19. MIS-C symptoms include fever, rash, redness in the eyes, stomachache, diarrhoea, cough or respiratory symptoms. Children infected with MIS-C may need to be admitted to ICU due to low pressure and rapid heart rate.
Al-Wa'ili pointed out that the number of children admitted in the Royal Hospital reached 70 cases including 30 MIS-C cases. All these cases are cured, in which the youngest case was a 10-day infant.
Dr Badriya reaffirmed the importance of taking the scheduled and additional vaccines for children with chronic diseases including the flu vaccinations in order to protect children from various viral infections. It is also important to wash hands, not touching eyes, and maintaining a 2-meter distance. In case leaving the home and in schools, Children over five years of age must wear a mask. In the event of having any symptoms, children must stay at home and maintain physical distance.
