By Lian Cheng
KUCHING, Oct 16: Children recovering from Covid-19 may experience a relapse syndrome called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) which if delayed in treatment may result in death.
According to Dr Ooi Mong How, a senior consultant paediatrician of Sarawak General Hospital (SGH), this may happen to children who get well within a few days or two weeks after contracting the disease.
“They may even be asymptomatic during this time, or may just suffer a bit of flu or fever, or sore throat, and after that, they recover. But after three to five weeks, they may face another situation, this is what Covid-19 can bring, MIS-C, or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome,” said Dr Ooi.
MIS-C is a condition where organs such as hearts and blood vessels become inflammatory.
“During this time, if there is delay in receiving medical attention, or not receiving the right treatment, they (the infected children) may be at risk of death,” said Dr Ooi during a social media live session of “Shall Wee Talk”, hosted by Kuching South City Council mayor Datuk Wee Hong Seng.
Dr Ooi said for the past few weeks, he had seen several such cases in SGH.
“I want to take the opportunity to tell parents, don’t underestimate the risk of (Covid-19) infection in your children,” he said.
Dr Ooi was responding to Wee’s question of whether it was wise to let children under the age of 11 to dine-in in public places when they are not vaccinated.
Despite not being vaccinated, these children are allowed to go to public places if both their parents are fully vaccinated.
Dr Ooi explained that unvaccinated children, like any unvaccinated adults, may be an agent of transmission of Covid-19, if they are infected. Like the unvaccinated adults, their infectious period will be longer than those vaccinated, and their infectious rate, will also be much higher than those who are jabbed.
“If you have been vaccinated and are infected, your infectious period will be between seven, eight days to ten days. After that, your infectious rate will decrease tremendously because the vaccine will strengthen your immunity, thus lowering the infectious period and rate.
“For children of 11 years old and below, they are belonging to the group of unvaccinated. And if infected, their infectious period and infectious rate are as high as an unvaccinated adult. According to the experience of other countries, their infectious period may be as long as three weeks to 21 days or even longer. This we must know,” said Dr Ooi.
Like adults, children with underlying health conditions, such as obesity, may also fall into Covid-19 Category 3 to 5 after contracting the illness, contrary to some misconceptions that children will not contract Covid-19 nor will they transmit the virus.
“We have witnessed a substantial number of cases in Sibu, Kuching and Miri where obese children share the same high risk as adults. They may develop pneumonia and other symptoms,” said Dr Ooi, citing the case of an obese five-year-old from Miri who passed away a few days ago. — DayakDaily
