India is still witnessing an increase in Kovid-19 cases in some parts of the country. The omicron type of coronavirus is affecting children more. Now, a new study says that because of their smaller and relatively narrower airways, young children with omicron are more susceptible to upper airway infections such as croup, which can lead to cardiac arrest if severe.Also read – World Liver Day 2022: These Habits Are Damaging Your Liver – Take Corrective Action Now
What is a crop?
Crop is a type of respiratory disease, medically known as laryngotracheitis in infants and young children. It is characterized by a barking cough and wheezing. In severe cases, it can cause dangerously shortness of breath. Also read – 90% rise in Covid-19 cases in India; Kerala saw the biggest increase in deaths. 5 points
A team of researchers from the University of Colorado and Northwestern University in the U.S. examined 18,849 hospitalized children with SARS-CoV-2. Also read – Breaking: UP has made masks mandatory in these districts as cases of covid are on the rise. Complete list
Their results, published in JAMA Pediatrics, show an increase in upper airway infections during omicron surges. In the US, SARS-CoV-2 and Upper Airways infections have seriously infected more than one-fifth of hospitalized children.
About 384 had an infection in the upper airway. Severe disease, defined as invasive ventilation, vasopressors, or extracorporeal membrane oxygen or death requirement, occurred in 81 children.
The study also found that children with upper airway infections were more likely to receive dexamethasone or develop serious illnesses during the omicron period compared to the pre-omicron period.
“Children with severe upper airway infections are at risk for cardiac arrest from rapid-onset upper airway obstruction. They may need treatment usually provided in intensive care units, which includes nebulized resimic epinephrine, helium-oxygen mixture, and frequent intubation. Researchers, including Black Martin, from the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado’s School of Medicine.
“While the rate of SARS-CoV-2 pediatric upper respiratory tract infections is not very high, understanding this new clinical phenotype and understanding the potential for acute upper respiratory tract obstruction can help guide therapeutic decision making,” they added.
After being discovered in African countries in November last year, Omicro soon gained a worldwide presence and became an influential strain rather than a delta. It became dominant in the US in the week ending December 25th.
“Omicron Delta (B.1.617.2) is known for less severe disease than the variant. This may be because Omicron mimics less efficiently in the parenchyma of the lungs and more efficiently in the conductive airways, ”the researchers said.
The team explained that SARS-CoV-2 can cause severe pediatric disease, including acute Covid-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Published reports associating SARS-CoV-2 with upper respiratory tract infections, such as laryngotracheobronchitis (Krupp), are limited to a small range of cases.
Although non-coronaviruses, including parainfluenza and respiratory syncytial viruses, most often cause upper respiratory tract infections, coronaviruses (e.g., NL63 type) are also commonly associated.
(Inputs via IANS)
