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.
Speaking at the valedictory of Swarnanjali, a national ‘Ghosh’ camp of the RSS here, on Sunday Bhagwat said that it was important to treat everyone as equals and emphasised the importance of coordination and cooperation in a diverse society like India, instead of friction.
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He is right, One who lived near the indus valley are called Hindu (geographic name). As religion we are divided into Muslim / Christian.
All the top Chiefs of RSS & BJP are Brahamins. Still following that Brahmin superiority system. Now just trying to bluff people by giving a pleasant statement.
Mohan Bhagwat is not a rishi. He is not qualified to decide on how Hinduism should be changed.
Enlightened after Bihar debacle.
He is planning for Ayodhya and giving hint to cooperate. Still he didnot forget to mention that all those living in India are Hindus but he forgot the fact that Aryans came India from Germany and nearby countries.
Actually Allmost all leaders of Sangh parivar knows very well that RSS theories will not last long untill it keeps on their lies..........so sometimes like Mr.Sudarshan who went to Eidgah on morning. if you remember......and some time Advani's in law admitted that the Idols gifted to him was melted and made utensils for his home use !!!!!!!!!!!
so also if one asks RSS about what religion they follow....they will not say HINDU but they say Hindu culture........................its a clear form of ISIS in India...as Hinduism never say to kill an innocent women and rape....
Hindu is not a religion, every person who lives in India is called hindu...ghar wapasi doesn't work here....live with dignity and respect...that is what it is required by every citizens of India...
Now its your job to teach your bajrangi and various sangh pariwar to get rid all terrorism activities around....
RSS loves BEEF so they name as GHOSH camp.
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