Common ailments among kids turning aggressive: Dr Yaikhomba
Source: Chronicle News Service / Sonia Sorensangbam

Imphal, November 22 2024: The post-Covid era has brought on a concerning shift in paediatric health trends, with common ailments among children showing heightened severity and rare conditions becoming more prevalent, according to Dr Yaikhomba Taorem, a child specialist at Angels Children Hospital, Uripok.

Speaking about the phenomenon, Dr Yaikhomba highlighted that diseases like hand-foot-mouth disease, manageable within few days before the pandemic, are now taking longer to cure and exhibiting more aggressive symptoms.

"Previously, such conditions rarely required medication.

Now, they not only need treatment but also make basic activities like eating painful for children," he explained, noting that the post-Covid period has seen a notable rise in cases of reinfection of common diseases.

Dr Yaikhomba also observed an increase in throat infections such as pharyngitis among children aged 5 to 12 years.

This condition, he noted, is uncommon in children who have received private vaccinations like the Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) vaccine, which is currently not part of the public immunisation programme but only available in private institution.

Post-Covid, the symptoms of such infections have evolved, making them different from previously established patterns and more challenging to treat.

He attributed these changes to reduced cross-immunity among children, a result of prolonged isolation and limited interaction during the Covid pandemic.

Cross-immunity, which typically develops when children are exposed to infections that allow their bodies to build natural defences, was severely hampered during the pandemic.

During the pandemic, infections among children mostly occurred within households, as social interactions were drastically reduced.

This lack of exposure has left their immune systems less prepared to combat infections, allowing viruses and bacteria to become more aggressive, he explained.

Winter, traditionally considered an "off-season" for paediatric doctors, now shows no decline even in cases of common illnesses such as cough, cold, and fever.

Unlike in the past, these conditions are not easily managed with home remedies and often require medical attention.

This, Dr Yaikhomba said, is another indicator of the diminished natural immunity among children post-Covid.

He advised parents to focus on boosting their children's immunity to address this worrying trend.

Key measures include ensuring children get sufficient sleep, engaging them in regular physical activities, and limiting screen time, which often replaces outdoor play.

Longer screen time reduces physical activity and weakens immunity, he warned.

The overlapping symptoms of common ailments, such as cough, runny nose, fever, and vomiting, require parents and healthcare providers to remain vigilant.

Dr Yaikhomba stressed the need for timely medical intervention and preventive measures to combat the aggressive nature of these post-Covid infections.

This shift in paediatric health underscores the far-reaching impacts of the Covid pandemic, with experts urging collective efforts to strengthen the overall immunity of children and adapt to the changing health landscape.

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