Gastro Issues In Children Can Be A Sign Of COVID

We all know about the common symptoms of COVID 19, which may include a runny nose, fever, and loss of taste and smell. However, the Department of Health of Victoria and NSW are reporting that gastro can also be a symptom of COVID amongst children. 

New South Wales and Victoria's Department of Health has issued an urgent alert and gentle reminders for the parents and early childhood services as it has been noticed among the children that gastro problems are spiking high in the childcare centres. In Victoria, there are more than 100 gastroenteritis has been reported over the past couple of months which indicates a sharp rise in gastro problems in children, at the same time experts are reminding parents that gastro issues in children can be a sign of covid 19.

The government's health website officially lists gastrointestinal symptoms as a symptom of COVID for children. The site also offers a tailored symptom-checker based on factors such as age and location.

Many experts have found a strong relationship between gastro and covid. A Melbourne paediatrician Dr Trupti Prasad said that certainly there is a strong link between covid and gastro but it is also true that it may be two different factors. She said "There certainly seems to be a strong link between gastro and COVID. "But obviously, it can be a separate illness too”.

Dr Sam Hay also says that children may have the gastro issue as a symptom of COVID but they may be two different illnesses. So, the suggestions are for parents to take a test if their child has diarrhoea and other gastro issues.

Covid has more than one variant. In January the experts notice omicron variants among the children who had symptoms like a rough-sounding, barking cough. American doctors said they have noticed a type of cough which as sounds like “seal breaking” under the 5 years of age of children and kids who were tested positive in Covid time.

Dr Buddy Creech, from the Vanderbilt University Medical Centre in Nashville, Tennessee, said, the air passages of little children are so narrow that “it takes far less inflammation to clog them,”. American paediatric infectious disease expert Dr Amy Edwards said the main treatment is to keep the upper airways clear until the inflammation goes away. She also said sometimes a short course of steroids is needed to make them cure but, in many cases, inflammation goes away by itself.

It has also been noticed that any condition in children gets better within a short period of time with or without medicine. Care is required not fear.

Reference: 
The COVID Symptom In Kids That Parents May Overlook