Doctor: Guard children in fight against COVID-19

As COVID-19 infections streak across Jamaica at lightning speed, parents have been warned to safeguard preteens against the virus, with a paediatrician at the Bustamante Hospital for Children citing a troubling uptick in cases.

A third wave of the coronavirus has plunged the nation’s public-health sector into free fall, with a new record daily report of 22 deaths and 705 hospitalisations.

Bustamante has dealt with 157 positive cases in children ages 11 years and younger during the period May 2020 to August 25, 2021, said Dr Melissa Royal.

“Between May to December 2020, the average age of COVID-19 positive children was 4.7 years; from January to May 2021, it was 3.7 years; and from June 2021 to present, it is 1.8 years,” Royal told The Gleaner.

Overall, almost 30 per cent of children were less than one year old.

Five of the 46 infants were neonates – younger than 28 days old.

There were fewer than 11 cases per month from May to December 2020, and the hospital experienced a peak in child infections in January, March, and April 2021.

Nineteen children were positive in January, then 33 and 26 in March and April, respectively.

“These numbers returned to less than 15 per month in May to July 2021. However, there are 30 cases in August so far, and this is projected to increase further,” the paediatrician disclosed.

Royal said it was crucial to protect Jamaica’s children through mask wearing, social distancing, hand washing, and vaccination.

“These small infants and children cannot get a vaccine, and we must urge the vaccination of all eligible adults and strongly consider those children 12 years and older in order to indirectly afford some protection to this highly vulnerable age group,” the paediatrician said.

Royal also shared that children who were admitted and found to have COVID-19 infections had a marked disparity in average hospital stay based on whether they had underlying illnesses.

Children with no underlying illnesses had an average stay of five days, but those with underlying illnesses such as cancer or sickle-cell disease had an average stay five times as long.

The longest hospital stay was 72 days for a patient who had burns, but this was likely due to the severity of burns itself.

In keeping with the milder nature of COVID-19 infections in children, only four cases were reported as critical.

“There were 23 patients who were suspected to have the Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in children up to May this year, few of whom needed ventilator support. This is the more severe form of COVID-19 disease that may occur after a recent infection and affects several organs of the body, resulting in a longer hospital stay,” Royal said.

The hospital reported two deaths in children with COVID-19 infections, but these were due to their underlying cancer and not the virus.

Royal is urging parents to help children in the fight against COVID-19 by boosting their immune system, which is generally achieved by ensuring a balanced diet inclusive of plenty of vitamins from fruits and vegetables and exercising at least one hour per day for five days per week.

Additionally, children must be kept hydrated as the cells of the respiratory tract need hydration to ward off the germs that may stick to it more easily when it becomes dry and irritated.

Preparing for the reopening of school:

Ensure consistent bedtimes and plenty of rest for children in order to help them fight infections, learn well, and grow healthily.

Practise hand hygiene at home.

Cut fingernails as they are great hiding places for germs.

Practise mask wearing for an extended period of time, once children are two years and older.

Teach children not to touch the front of their masks or share personal items with other children.

Ensure that children with chronic illnesses such as asthma or diabetes take their medications regularly and attend clinic appointments.