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Omicron in children: which symptoms speak for an infection with the corona variant

2022-04-08T02:58:09.526Z


Omicron in children: which symptoms speak for an infection with the corona variant Created: 04/08/2022, 04:49 am By: Yannick Hanke The corona variant Omikron also spreads quickly among small children. But which symptoms indicate a corona infection in children? Berlin – Parents beware: the omicron also affects children and not just adults. The number of new corona infections in Germany hardly c


Omicron in children: which symptoms speak for an infection with the corona variant

Created: 04/08/2022, 04:49 am

By: Yannick Hanke

The corona variant Omikron also spreads quickly among small children.

But which symptoms indicate a corona infection in children?

Berlin – Parents beware: the omicron also affects children and not just adults.

The number of new corona infections in Germany hardly comes to a rest because of the corona variant, the omicron subform BA.2 plays a large part in this - and is also becoming a problem for the smallest of society.

Or is Omikron perhaps not a problem with children?

Omicron in children: Corona infection can manifest itself in a symptom like pseudocroup

In a statement from the end of December 2021, the German Society for Child and Adolescent Medicine (DGKJ) had already expected that children would be infected with omicron more frequently than other age groups.

After all, many children have not yet been vaccinated, recovered or boosted against the corona variant, which speaks for a corona infection.

Even children are not immune to omicron infections.

But what are the symptoms that indicate that the little ones have been infected with the corona variant?

(kreiszeitung.de assembly) © Christian Ohde/Bernhard Classen/imago

An omicron infection in children, which can manifest itself as a symptom of pseudocroup, can therefore be anything but ruled out.

However, the DGKJ does not expect a serious illness or a severe course due to a corona infection with the variant.

Although it is still too early for a final assessment, reports from the Tshawane District in South Africa, from London and Australia are basically reassuring.

Omicron infection can also affect children – but virologist Christian Drosten gives the all-clear for serious illness

"Experience from the previous waves of the pandemic with the Alpha and Delta variants teaches that a particular risk for children has not been confirmed in any of these waves," the specialists say in relation to omicrons in children from the "Morgenpost" in connection with an infection quoted from the Corona variant.

The virologist Christian Drosten should make a similar statement in early January 2022.

Drosten now refers to data from South Africa and North America that suggest the following: Children do not come to the hospital because of Covid 19 disease.

Rather, the corona infection would often "only" turn out to be a secondary diagnosis during admission.

Omicrons in children: The little ones in particular have to go to the hospital more and more frequently when they get infected with corona

Conversely, it has not yet been clarified why small children in particular have to go to the hospital more and more often because of Covid.

Christian Drosten refers to this.

Understandably, parents want to hear the all-clear about a possible omicron infection in their children.

Florian Hoffmann, Secretary General of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), knows how to draw on these:

In every wave so far, premature statements about the potential danger of the newly emerged variant have caused parents to worry, which then did not come true and did not lead to a pandemic among the children.

Florian Hoffmann, Secretary General of the German Interdisciplinary Association for Intensive Care and Emergency Medicine (DIVI), to the "Morgenpost"

However, the actual danger that Omikron poses to children and especially small children will probably only be found out in the near future.

However, science has more valid data regarding the symptoms of omicron in adults and signs that indicate infection with the omicron subtype BA.2.

But that doesn't mean that parents are left in the dark about the Corona variant and their children.

Fever or vomiting as symptoms of an omicron infection in children can be ruled out.

A statement from England provides more information.

Omicron infection in children: The symptom can manifest itself in a rash – there is no question of diarrhea or fever

Because in December 2021, Omicron should spread particularly quickly in Great Britain.

At the time, north London family doctor David Lloyd found one symptom in particular that affected children infected with omicron: skin rash.

While such a rash is less common in adults as a result of omicron coronary disease than other symptoms, such as discoloration of the skin or lips, it was the norm in some children:

We've always had a small cohort of patients with Covid who get an odd rash, but up to 15 percent of Omicron children get an odd rash.

Family doctor David Lloyd told SkyNews

Skin irritations as a result of an omicron infection in children have already been demonstrated.

However, that was by no means the only sign that points to an infection and serves as information and indicator for concerned parents.

The signs should be interpreted in any case, after all it has already been proven that the omicron sub-form BA.2 spreads much faster than the "original form".

But which omicron symptoms are ultimately expressed in an infection with the corona variant?

Omicron in children: which symptoms indicate an infection with the corona variant - sometimes also in adults

  • skin rash

  • fatigue

  • headache

  • loss of appetite

  • An analysis as part of the "Zoe Covid Study" at London's King's College also listed other symptoms that can apply to both children and adults:

  • runny nose

  • Sneeze

  • Sore throat

Corona vaccinations for children: The risk of an omicron infection should be kept small - but which age groups are entitled to the injection?

The question of vaccination arises so that children perhaps do not get omicron in the first place or at least reduce the risk of a serious illness up to Long Covid.

In other words, to what extent can children in which age range be vaccinated against the corona virus in general and the omicron variants in particular?

The Federal Ministry of Health provides information on its website about the possibilities of corona vaccinations for children, also with regard to the omicron variant and its symptoms.

In fact, Biontech's children's vaccine has been approved for children between the ages of five and eleven since the end of November 2021.

This is recommended by the Standing Committee on Vaccination (Stiko), especially for children with previous illnesses.

Omicron in children: Despite the spread of corona variants, there is no vaccination requirement for children - but vaccinations are possible from the age of 5

However, there is no compulsory vaccination for children in Germany.

It's different with adults, of course.

While a nationwide vaccination requirement for people over the age of 18 was rejected, politicians have now been able to agree on a vaccination requirement from the age of 60, which should apply from October 2022.

Meanwhile, Health Minister Karl Lauterbach (SPD) is continuing his lurching course with regard to quarantine after corona infection.

Despite the enormous occurrence of Omikron, there is only a recommendation for children to have a corona vaccination.

This has been in place for children from the age of twelve since September 2021, again by the Stiko.

At this point, the Federal Ministry of Health knows how to provide information about the possible side effects of vaccination.

Side effects of a corona vaccination in children: hardly any fever, rather tiredness and pain at the injection site

In this case, observed vaccination reactions in the pivotal study in children aged five to eleven years are discussed.

These are similar to those found in people aged 12 and over.

The following local reactions were listed as the most common side effects after a corona vaccination:

  • Pain at the vaccination site (80% chance)

  • Tiredness/fatigue (50% chance)

  • Headache (30% chance)

  • Redness and swelling at the vaccination site (20 percent chance)

  • Body aches (10 percent chance)

Systemic reactions, however, rarely occurred in the children as a result of the corona vaccination.

This means, among other things, fever, chills or an enlargement of the lymph nodes, which are more likely to occur in adults after a corona vaccination.

In the case of children, however, the study never achieved a value greater than ten percent.

Corona vaccination in children to contain omicron: If the youngest suffer from vaccination damage, the law can be used

Regardless of whether the Stiko recommended the corona vaccination for children or not: anyone who suffers vaccination damage from the injection against the virus will receive care under the Federal Health Care Act upon application.

However, this does not apply to application errors by doctors or errors by the respective pharmaceutical company.

If children have received their corona vaccination, parents can manage the corresponding digital proof either in the CovPass app or in the Corona warning app.

Easy as pie, so to speak.

* kreiszeitung.de is an offer from IPPEN.MEDIA.

Source: merkur

All news articles on 2022-04-08

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