Coronavirus: what is the profile of hospitalized children?

In two weeks, there were 226 children infected with the coronavirus in hospitals across the country. Ten were being treated in an intensive care unit. What is the profile of these young patients and why are they hospitalized?

The significant wave of the omicron variant affects adults but also children. Among those who are hospitalized, we find children at risk of developing serious forms linked to the coronavirus, but not only. “There are also children who have a double pathology. We find winter respiratory infections, I would say classic, and therefore there are a lot of bronchiolitis, a lot of respiratory infections. And sometimes SARS-CoV-2, covid-19, is also associated with the omicron variant. This is what causes the respiratory involvement to be more severe“, explains Yves Coppieters, epidemiologist and professor of public health at ULB.

Childhood vaccination is very important if the child is at risk

According to epidemiologists, the omicron variant causes mild infections in the vast majority of children. But is it safer to vaccinate them? “Vaccination of children is very important if the child is at risk of developing severe forms. And this is the clinical story of each child in relation to a medical history, in relation to perhaps the fact that they are more susceptible to lower respiratory infections, or to other health problems.“, answers Yves Coppieters.

In two weeks, 226 children infected with the coronavirus were hospitalized, including ten in intensive care. The hospitalization of children across our country is not considered to be of concern. They are hospitalized mainly for double pathologies or for surveillance.

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