While many experts warned that the third wave could see children most infected as COVID vaccination had not yet been introduced for them, data from the state health department showed that the second wave could see the most Children got infected (0- 18 age group.)
In the second wave, where 2,35,639 children were infected, in the third wave less than half the number was reported to be 1,05,799. 91,191 children were infected in the first wave, shortest of three waves,
The highest number of children infected in all three waves were in the age group of 10-18 years. While 63,852 children were infected in the first wave, 1,69,483 children were infected in the second wave. In the third wave, 89,179 children in this age group were infected, the figures showed.
In the 0-9 years age group, where 27,339 were infected in the first wave, 66,156 and 16,620 children were infected in the second and third wave respectively.
In terms of total deaths in the 0-18 year age group, the third wave accounted for the lowest number of deaths among 39 children. 82 children died during the second wave, while 56 children died in the first wave. to data.
The 13-member expert committee (headed by cardiologist Devi Prasad Shetty) which was set up by the Karnataka government to analyze, advise and control the third wave of COVID-19, estimated that the total population of 23 million in the country Around 3.4 lakh from the 0-18 age group may be infected during the peak of the third wave.
better immune system
State’s COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) member V Ravi, who also heads the state’s Genomic Surveillance Committee, said the infection was less in children as children usually contract the respiratory virus more than adults. They handle it better because their immune system is strong. “The fourth wave is likely to follow a similar pattern and may target adults the most,” he said.
“The receptors for the SARS-CoV-2 virus are not fully expressed in children as they are in adults. And, it is because of this that children are much less likely to develop severe forms of the disease. However, some children developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) during the latter part of the recovery period. It was mainly in those who did not develop good neutralizing antibodies,” he said.
Chikanarasa Reddy, a professor of pediatrics at the Boring and Lady Curzon Medical College and Research Institute, also said that children are at much lower risk than older adults. “It is because of this, only a fraction of infected children developed severe forms of the disease,” he said.
less test
He said that the low number of infections in the third wave could also be because many people were not tested. “Many parents did not get their children tested mainly because the symptoms were mild. The parents waited two-three days before consulting a doctor and by then most of the children were cured. This is like what most people did in the third wave. As not all people who developed symptoms got tested, the actual number of child infections may not have been recorded,” he said.
Asha Benekappa, former director of the state-run Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health, said children do not develop the severe form of the disease as their immune systems are intact and active.
“Children are less prone to infection by COVID because the expression of ACE2 receptors, which is the entry point of the virus, is low. It varies with age. Very young children getting infected and dying of COVID, they have alternative receptors like GPP-78 for the virus to enter,” she said.
no co-morbidities
“Children do not have comorbidities, except in 5%-10%, which is an additional protective factor. Also, since all childhood vaccines are live viral vaccines, they are all safer,” Dr. Beneckappa, who is now the Head of the Department of Pediatrics at the Dr Chandramma Dayanand Sagar Institute of Medical Education and Research.