About 15 pc babies, toddlers facing long-Covid, symptoms can differ by age: Study

Posted on by Vividh Bharathi

New Delhi, May 29 (IANS) Amid another global wave of Covid-19 disease, a new study showed that about 15 per cent of babies and toddlers are facing long-Covid conditions and that their symptoms can vary based on age.

Long Covid in kids can be defined as prolonged symptoms that last for at least three months after a SARS-CoV-2 infection.

The study, published in the JAMA Pediatrics, is based on 472 infants and toddlers, and 539 preschool-aged children enrolled from March 2022 to July 2024, found that about 15 per cent of kids had long Covid.

About 40 of 278 infants aged 2 years and under (14 per cent) had persistent symptoms, while 61 of 399 children aged 3 to 5 years (15 per cent) had the symptoms.

Further, the study showed that babies and toddlers experience different long-Covid symptoms than preschoolers ages 3 to 5 years.

Infants and toddlers (younger than 2 years old) were more likely to experience trouble sleeping, fussiness, poor appetite, stuffy nose, and cough.

Preschool-aged children (3 to 5 years old) were more likely to have a dry cough and daytime tiredness/low energy. In total, 74 per cent of preschoolers with probable long Covid reported a dry cough.

These symptoms differ greatly from those commonly seen in older kids and teens who have long Covid. The study found that school-aged children are more likely to have neurologic symptoms, such as trouble focusing, trouble sleeping, or feeling lightheaded. They may also have back or neck pain, headache, stomach pain, or vomiting. Sometimes, they have behavioral changes.

“This study is important because it shows that long Covid symptoms in young children are different from those in older children and adults,” said Tanayott (Tony) Thaweethai, associate director of Biostatistics Research and Engagement at Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH).

Further, the team noted that the varied symptoms may be explained by the fact that symptoms in younger children are reported based on what caregivers can observe rather than what the children themselves are feeling and describing.

“Children with these symptoms often had worse overall health, lower quality of life, and delays in development,” Thaweethai said, while calling for more research on the impact of Covid on young children.

–IANS

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Study warns against surge in antibiotic prescribing in young adults

New Delhi, April 4 (IANS) Younger people are being increasingly prescribed antibiotics without proper assessment of complication risk, finds a study, warning that this may potentially lead to resistance.

The study, led by epidemiologists at the University of Manchester, UK, showed that doctors are prescribing antibiotics for tens of thousands of patients with infections, with little or no consideration of prognosis and the risk of the infection worsening.

The study based on an analysis of 15.7 million patient records, revealed that the most elderly patients in the sample were 31 per cent less likely than the youngest patients to receive an antibiotic for upper respiratory infections.

This means “many younger people are being prescribed antibiotics, even though they are often fit enough to recover without them, potentially leading to resistance,” said the team in the paper, published in the prestigious Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.

Many older people may not be able to deal with infections without antibiotics are not receiving them, with the potential of complications and hospital admissions.

Patients with combinations of diseases were 7 per cent less likely than people without major health problems to receive an antibiotic for upper respiratory infections.

Further, the findings revealed that the probability of being prescribed antibiotics for a lower respiratory tract or urinary tract infection was unrelated to hospital admission risk. On the other hand, the probability of being prescribed an antibiotic for an upper respiratory tract infection was only weakly related to hospital admission risk.

“Antibiotics are effective in treating bacterial infections, but they carry the risks of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and loss of effectiveness when used inappropriately. That is why AMR to antibiotics has been recognised as one of the biggest threats to global public health,” said lead author Professor Tjeerd van Staa from The University of Manchester

“The study finds that antibiotics for common infections are commonly not prescribed according to complication risk and that suggests there is plenty of scope to do more on reducing antibiotic prescribing,” van Staa added.

Dr. Ali Fahmi from the varsity urged “clinicians to focus on improving risk-based antibiotic prescribing for infections that are less severe and typically self-limiting”.

–IANS

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Integration of PACS, Jan Aushadhi Kendras reducing medical expenses of small farmers: Centre

New Delhi, March 26 (IANS) The integration of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) and Jan Aushadhi Kendras are helping small and marginal farmers reduce their medical expenses, said the government on Wednesday.

In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah stated PACS is empowering the farmers and boosting their productivity as well as generating employment.

“The integration of PACS and Jan Aushadhi Kendras economically empowers small and marginal farmers by reducing their medical expenses, allowing them to allocate more resources to agricultural productivity,” Shah said.

“This initiative creates employment opportunities at PACS level, and enables them to generate additional revenue,” he added.

To provide generic medicines at affordable prices to rural citizens, the Government has enabled PACS to operate Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Kendras (PMBJK) under the Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Jan Aushadhi Pariyojana.

To establish and operate Jan Aushadhi Kendras, PACS utilise their widespread rural network of over 13 crores of small and marginal farmers and existing infrastructure, such as land, building, and storage facilities.

“This allows them to serve as affordable medicine hubs in remote areas where such access is limited. Established trust of PACS and its relationship with rural populations further aid in ensuring the success of these Kendras,” Shah said.

The scheme provides incentives to the Kendras at the rate of 20 per cent of monthly purchases made from the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Bureau of India (PMBI), subject to a ceiling of Rs. 20,000 per month, subject to conditions of stock mandate.

Further, the Kendra owners are provided a 20 per cent margin on the MRP (excluding taxes) of each drug. The Kendras are also allowed to sell allied medical products commonly sold in a Chemist shop.

The initiative aligns with the National Health Policy’s goal of equitable access to quality healthcare ensuring that affordable medicines reach underserved rural populations, thereby addressing broader public health objectives.

–IANS

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1 in 6 US parents support teenagers getting laser hair removal, chemical skin peels: Study

New Delhi, Feb 17 (IANS) Every sixth parent in the US is in support of their teenage children indulging in non-surgical cosmetic procedures such as laser hair removal, chemical skin peels, teeth whitening and dermal fillers, according to nationwide study published on Monday.

The study led by the University of Michigan Health CS Mott Children’s Hospital, based on a national poll showed that more than 16 per cent parents believe that teenagers should be allowed to receive these types of aesthetic treatments for any reason as long as they have approval from their guardians.

But, half of parents only support teenagers getting non-surgical cosmetic procedures if there’s a valid reason. While 50 per cent said the reason should not be “being bullied about appearance”, less than 40 per cent say improving mental health is a good reason.

“Parents were conflicted about the circumstances under which non-surgical cosmetic procedures are appropriate for teenagers,” said Mott Poll Co-Director and Mott pediatrician Susan Woolford.

“Interestingly, similar proportions of parents rated the validity of teenagers wanting to look good for a special occasion on par with wanting the procedures due to mental health or bullying,” Woolford added.

The nationally representative poll is based on responses from 989 parents of children ages 13-17 surveyed in August 2024. The increased popularity of these procedures may be associated with social media content that exposed teenagers to idealise images of faces and bodies, Woolford said.

“Teenagers are susceptible to feeling insecure about their appearance when compared to digitally altered pictures depicting an appearance that is probably unattainable naturally,” she said. “This problem is exacerbated by the pressure to post pictures of themselves to garner validation.”

However, it’s important for parents to find ways to help teenagers understand the distortions presented in the media while also exploring their reasons for wanting to change their appearance, she said.

“If a teenager asks for a non-surgical cosmetic procedure, parents should consider the emotional and mental health implications,” she said.

Further, the poll showed that parent opinions of the age at which youth should be able to obtain such services also varied. More than half selected 18 years of age or older, 27 per cent said ages 16-17 was old enough and 17 per cent said 15 or younger was also fine.

But, nearly a third of parents think teenagers should be prohibited from these procedures under any circumstances.

–IANS

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