Symptoms of COVID-19 in adult patients usually include fever, tiredness, muscle ache and a dry cough. But in children the symptoms might not be similar. The symptoms in kids are different from the adult patients.
According to experts, the most common symptoms of coronavirus in children are fatigue, headache and fever. A few pediatric patients go on to develop a cough or lose their sense of taste or smell also. While many children experience sore throats, loss of appetite, diarrhea and unusual skin rash.
Some of the experts have also pointed at the possibility of neurological symptoms in children after COVID-19 infection. These neurological symptoms are reported in many adult patients of this viral disease. But it is not an established fact in children. Neurological impact of COVID-19 may be present in kids too are pointed out by the new cases in India’s premier medical establishment.
Recently, a COVID-19 teenage was admitted at AIIMS for treatment of loss of vision. She is currently undergoing treatment in the premier medical institute for the same and doctors treating her are trying to determine if her condition was a complication of COVID-19.
A report on her health condition is being prepared by the doctors in the child neurology division which they are planning to publish soon.
According to a draft of the report, doctors identified COVID-19 infection-induced Acute Demyelinating Syndrome (ADS) in an 11-year-old girl. This is the first such case that has been reported in the paediatric age group.
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ADS Diagnosed In COVID-Positive 11-Year-Old
Myelin sheath is a protective layer that covers the nerves of our body. This helps the messages from the brain move quickly and smoothly through the body. While ADS is a health condition that leads to damage of the myelin, which disrupts brain signals and lead to other neurological symptoms like loss of vision, muscle movement, senses, bladder and bowel movement, etc.
At the time of admission the teenage patient complained of loss of vision and her MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) showed ADS, which is a new manifestation.
However, the symptoms of COVID-19 are usually associated with the brain and the lungs. So, the researchers decided to conduct further tests to verify if this condition was COVID related. Doctors say that she regained almost 50 per cent of her vision after treatment and she responded positively to immunotherapy. She has since been discharged from hospital.
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13-Year-Old COVID-Positive Teenager Admitted With Encephalopathy
There is one more case that is also being studied by doctors at AIIMS which involves a COVID-19 positive who is 13-year old teenager. She was admitted after she complained of fever and encephalopathy (swelling of brain) and is currently undergoing treatment.
The doctors are trying to determine if her condition is a complication of COVID-19. Earlier, researchers had established that epilepsy, encephalitis, Kawasaki-like disease and Guillain-barre syndrome are some complications that COVID-19 positive children may experience.
These neurological conditions can have an adverse and long-term affect on neuro developmental outcome in patients.
According to experts, these children need a regular follow-up treatment that can be a challenge for a resource-strapped country like India.