May 12: Children suffering from non-respiratory disease symptoms like diarrhea and fever, or those with a history of exposure to the novel coronavirus, should be suspected of having COVID-19, a new study says.
According to the research, published in the journal Frontiers in Pediatrics, gastrointestinal symptoms first suffered by some children hints at potential infection with SARS-CoV-2 through the digestive tract.
"This case series is the first report to describe the clinical features of COVID-19 with non-respiratory symptoms as the first manifestation in children," the scientists from Tongji Hospital in China wrote in the study.
They explained that the gastrointestinal symptoms could be arising since the type of receptors in lung cells targeted by the virus can also be found in the intestines.
Most children are only mildly affected by COVID-19, and the few severe cases often have underlying health issues, the researchers said.
"It is easy to miss its diagnosis in the early stage, when a child has non-respiratory symptoms, or suffers from another illness," said study co-author Wenbin Li, who works at the Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital.
"Based on our experience of dealing with COVID-19, in regions where this virus is epidemic, children suffering from digestive tract symptoms, especially with fever and/or a history of exposure to this disease, should be suspected of being infected with this virus," Li said.
In the study, the scientists described the clinical features of children admitted to hospital with non-respiratory symptoms, who were subsequently diagnosed with pneumonia and COVID-19.
"These children were seeking medical advice in the emergency department for unrelated problems, for example, one had a kidney stone, another a head trauma," Li said.
The study noted that all the children had pneumonia, which was confirmed by chest X-ray scan before or soon after admission.
These children were then confirmed to have COVID-19.
While their COVID-19 symptoms were initially mild or relatively hidden before their hospital admission, four out of the five cases had digestive tract symptoms as the first manifestation of this disease, the researchers said.
Li hopes that doctors will use the findings to quickly diagnose and isolate patients with similar symptoms, which may aid early treatment and reduce transmission.
According to the researchers, the children's gastrointestinal symptoms, which have also been recorded in adult patients, could be an additional route of infection.
"The gastrointestinal symptoms experienced by these children may be related to the distribution of receptors and the transmission pathway associated with COVID-19 infection in humans," Li explained.
Since the virus infects people via the ACE2 receptor, which can be found in certain cells in the lungs as well as the intestines, COVID-19 might infect patients not only through the respiratory tract in the form of air droplets, but also through the digestive tract by contact or fecal-oral transmission, the study noted.
While COVID-19 tests can occasionally produce false positive readings, Li said all the five children assessed in the study were infected with the disease.
However, he cautioned that more research is needed to confirm their findings.
"We report five cases of COVID-19 in children showing non-respiratory symptoms as the first manifestation after admission to hospital. The incidence and clinical features of similar cases needs further study in more patients," he said.
New Delhi, Feb 13: Condemning the prevalence of the illegal practice of “dedicating” young girls as Devadasis in Hindu society, the Supreme Court on Friday described the practice as an “evil” done to women, who were later even subjected to sexual exploitation and pushed into prostitution.
Comments
Now all like minded should unite and eradicate all the malpractices in the name of religion like :
- Caste system- Upper, lower, Dalit etc.....
- Praying multiple Gods, also praying to Devils, Ghosts
- Fortune telling like horoscope. These can be seen on many Indian TVs.
- Telling the man made stories - that God and giants fight and God is loosing.
- Madai snana in Karanataka,
- Devadasi system in most of the South Indian states
Generally, stick to Vedas and practice it. These are more convincing than man made other books.
The best thing is if you found practical and true, get and follow from other religions.
Where are Ram sena, Bajarangadal ,VHP,ABVP.......? Why not Hindu is ondu in this case. Why not crocodile tears in this case. Wake up fear real creator.
Prostitution Racket using God's Name.. Sick people. This is bcoz of false believes.. Gvt should enforce BAN on it. many poor girls are trapping under this false believes.
Would they agree with SC? May be the order has to come from Nagpur and its never going to happen.
TO those who are ARROGANT
ALLAH says in QURAN: O MANKIND, We have created YOU from a male and a female and have made YOU into nations and tribes for YOU to know ONE another. Truly, the noblest of YOU with God is most PIOUS. Truly, God is all KNOWING, All AWARE - QURAN 49:13
Islam REJECTS certain individuals or nations being favored b'cos of their wealth, power or RACE. ALLAH created human beings as EQUALS who are to be distinguished from each other only on the basis of their faith and PIETY.
Prophet Muhammad pbuh said : O people! Your God is ONE and YOUR forefather (Adam) is ONE. An ARAB is NOT better than a NON-ARAB & a NON-ARAB is not better than an ARAB, and a White person is not better than a BLACK person & a BLACK person is not better than a WHITE person EXCEPT BY GOOD DEEDS & PIETY.
Do YOU know even DALITS also should not be looked down.... If U guys continue to oppress people & did not recognise the true God surely HELL will be the destination. Please READ what God speaks its not just for high class.. everyone can access to GOD's word.
Add new comment