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.
Comments
Wow just in 9 mins the fire service reaches!!!
The biggest blunder of Modi Government....those who eat beef let them eat it....those who do not with all respect do not eat it....its their choice.....vote bank politics...that should be stopped for once and for all....
Muslims do not eat pig....but do not disturb Christians at all...
Masha allah our great leaders. may Allah give you long life.
incredible India.. The government, high commissioners getting a warning by RSS Terrorists but no action till date and if it is said by Muslim outfits they will name it as terrorism and file case against innocents.
Now impose case against these goondas and let's see how they will react..
If These terrorists warns means don't worry. If they strike and do any other terrorist acts, then shoot them. Automatically Dakshina kannada will become peaceful district like before.
NIA It is Narendra Interests adopting Agency.
They killed karkera, Good police inspectors everywhere Ex. Bathla house attack, etc.
They are arresting whomever opposing RSS and their Terrorist organizations.
and Why not BJP ????????
its unfortunate that ...he included SDPI as a communal group ....its a POLITICAL party ...just because fighting for the rights of minorities and dalits . and killed by RSS government is adding and considering as communal parties ????????????????
RAI , UT and LOBO are behind this to add SDPI too in this list ...
and one more thing is that ... victim of RSS are all including RSS members ( some times RSS kills their own members to shut the mouth) .....now when RSS started to kill civilians in DK and NK....and Popular front started to protest against the same ....now govt added victims in the list to target ...
all though the RSS is the main cause for all ....only RSS should be targeted not PFI or SDPI
All drama baazi...
assalam alikum wa rahmatullahi wabarkatuhu,
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Asslumalikum waRahmatullahi Wabarkatuhu.
Sir
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Good move,book all anti social elements for peaceful atmosphere in DK and Udupi, Let normal people live peacefully
first Police is showing its presence .....who were dead while processions and stone pelting by BD and other third class organizations .....
in fact Muslims dont pelt the stones or cow heads ...we have seen this in Shimoga and other places and as well as Bantwal ..where a viral video shows the reality ....
if P.O.L.I.C.E over come from its % pressure , then we can see some light of peace in the district .....
Asslamoalykum
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Please
Well done police. Should punish this gundaas.
When Muslims do their job taught by prophet Muhammad pbuh ... EXPECT ALLAHs help. Never lose trust in ALLAH..
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