Coronavirus symptoms in children – from cough to temperature
CORONAVIRUS cases are continuing to rise in the UK with the cases mostly affecting adults.
But the NHS has sent out an urgent warning of a ruse in kids admitted to intensive care with a coronavirus-related condition.
⚠️ Read our for the latest news & updates
What is the NHS alert about?
In the alert, sent to GPs in North London, health chiefs said: “There is growing concern that a [Covid-19] related inflammatory syndrome is emerging in children in the UK.
"Over the last three weeks, there has been an apparent rise in the number of children of all ages presenting with a multi-system inflammatory state requiring intensive care across London and also in other regions of the UK."
The Paediatric Intensive Care Society said that the unidentified condition requires intensive care - with cases reported across the UK.
They say the syndrome has the characteristics of serious Covid-19, while abdominal pain and gastrointestinal symptoms, like vomiting and diarrhoea, have also been seen by doctors.
Medics warned the cases to have features of toxic shock syndrome and atypical Kawasaki Disease, an inflammatory condition that attacks blood vessels and the heart.
These conditions can cause harmful internal swelling, fever and breathing problems - which are all also the main symptoms of coronavirus.
So far, the number of children affected has been small - and mostly in London - but senior paediatricians are concerned.
SIGNS TO WATCH OUT FOR
NHS doctors have been told to watch out for signs of an 'inflammatory syndrome' in kids, after a rise in cases of the new condition.
Health chiefs said in an alert to GPs the signs include:
- stomach pain
- gastrointestinal symptoms - like vomiting and diarrhoea
The mysterious condition has been compared to toxic shock syndrome and Kawasaki disease.
The signs of TSS are:
- high temperature
- flu-like symptoms, like headache, feeling cold, aches, sore throat and cough
- feeling and being sick
- diarrhoea
- widespread burn-like rash
- lips, tongue, and whites of the eyes turning bright red
- dizziness or fainting
- difficulty breathing
- confusion
Scientists are still trying to understand the new illness, but research so far suggests that there are fewer cases of the virus reported in children.
A also said that "children might be less likely to become infected or, if infected, may show milder symptoms" than adults.
Symptoms may appear similar to other respiratory illnesses, such as the flu and the common cold, but this new strain is said to more likely to trigger cough and fever, researchers said.
If your child shows any of the above symptoms or you're concerned they may have coronavirus make sure you keep them off school to stop the bug from spreading and follow NHS guidelines by calling NHS 111.
Baffling
Experts say it's unclear why coronavirus isn't impacting children as much as adults.
Especially because children's immune systems aren't as robust as adults and they tend to overreact.
Dr Nathalie MacDermott, from King's College London, told the : "You'd expect it to go haywire and it's not doing that.
"There must be something this virus does that is not as readily stimulating the immune system in children, but what that is is unclear.
"They don't seem to be mounting a disproportionate immune response and some seem to be asymptomatic."
Tap to see where COVID-19 is near you
Meanwhile, the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists confirmed pregnant women do not appear to be more susceptible to the consequences of the virus.
They also said there is no evidence that the virus can be passed to a baby during pregnancy.
The guidance also says there's no proof at the moment that Covid-19 can be carried in breastmilk so women are still encouraged to breastfeed.
However, as a precautionary measure, pregnant women with suspected or confirmed coronavirus are advised to attend an obstetric unit when they go into labour - but their birth plan should be followed as closely as possible.
Affecting more men
From early studies carried out in China, coronavirus appears to be affecting more men than women.
It's also more deadly among those with underlying health conditions or smokers.
Figures from the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention showed that in the first six weeks of the outbreak the numbers of males and females infected by Covid-19 were almost equal.
But their survival rates markedly differed - 1.7 per cent of women died compared with 2.8 per cent of men.
Experts believe there are a few reasons for this discrepancy, including some biological and other lifestyle choices, such as smoking.
In China, men are much more likely to smoke than women, which can lead to a weaker immune system.
In fact, China has the largest population of smokers in the world - accounting for nearly a third of the world's smokers - but just two per cent of them are women.
Meanwhile, in the UK 16.5 per cent of men - around 3.9 million - and 13 per cent of women - around 3.2 million - reported being current smokers.
The study showed that being an older male is another risk, with almost 10 per cent of infected men over the age of 60 succumbing to the disease.
More on coronavirus
To stop the spread of coronavirus, health bosses say that parents should encourage thorough handwashing, throwing tissues straight in the bin and avoiding people who are ill.
The best way to protect yourself is to wash your hands with soap and water for the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice.
Happy Birthday takes about 20 seconds to sing twice and is said to be the perfect number to clean your hands to thoroughly.