Covid-19 in children, what is the recent condition and prevention?

End of 2019, a disease that infects the respiratory tract in China. Not long ago, the disease named 2019-novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) spread to almost all countries in the world including Indonesia. At present, Covid-19 has caused 2 million pain worldwide, especially in old age.

What about the age of children and adolescents?

The age of children and adolescents (6-18 years) is an age group that is still bound to adults so that somehow this age still has a risk of being infected with COVID-19. However, the risk that children have so far tends to be low. Research by Dong Y et al in China involving 2135 children and adolescents suspected of having Covid-19, reported that only 34% were positive for Covid-19. While 34% of the dominant symptoms are mild and moderate. In the same study, it was reported that only 1 child died. Almost the same as in China, the number of cases in children and adolescents reported by the CDC in America (US) is also relatively low compared to age> 50 years. Data in the US illustrates the number of children being treated in hospital as many as 4 people / 1 million population, very far compared to the age of> 50 years (526 people / 1 million population). In Indonesia alone, data showing the condition of the distribution of Covid-19 in children and adolescents is still limited. However, several news articles stated that there were already children infected with Covid-19 in Indonesia.

What are the symptoms that may arise in children?

It is known, Covid-19 displays symptoms that are predominantly mild-moderate in children and adolescents. These symptoms are similar to the symptoms of a viral infection (influenza) in general, including fever, cough, runny nose, sneezing, and fatigue. For severe symptoms, children and adolescents tend to experience pneumonia with symptoms of high fever, dry cough, spasms, and spots on the lungs during chest X-ray. Symptoms of serious illness are more dangerous if the child has a chronic disease that lowers the immune system.

What causes the number of children who experience Covid-19 tends to be small and mild symptoms?

We know that the symptoms in children tend to be lighter, some are asymptomatic. If the symptoms displayed are mild, it certainly makes the awareness of parents to check their children be reduced. In addition, limited access to self-examination and minimal parental knowledge regarding this outbreak are also the reasons why the number of children reported having an infection is very low.

Until now, it is not clear what causes the dominant Covid-19 to display only mild-moderate symptoms. Some experts argue, the ACE2 receptor, a part of the cell to recognize the virus, is not widely available in the bodies of children and adolescents. This ACE2 receptor is a kind of door that gives Covid-19 a chance to develop more.

Although children and adolescents display mild symptoms, this disease should not be underestimated. It should be noted that children who display mild symptoms can still transmit the virus to adults worsened further to parents with chronic diseases (high blood pressure, diabetes, stroke, etc.). Keep encouraging children to be at home to be diligent, wash their hands thoroughly with soap, keep eating nutritious foods, wear masks, and if sick immediately consult the child with the family doctor.