The omicron variant continues to surge throughout the country, infecting children and adults alike. But it turns out children don’t feel all the symptoms adults do.
The news: Dr. Sam Dominguez, a pediatric infectious disease doctor at Children’s Hospital Colorado, told WCNC-TV that children are getting infected with the omicron. They are experiencing different symptoms compared to adults, too.
- “Omicron is so much more transmissible than the delta variant that so many more children are getting exposed and infected that that results in an absolute more number of kids getting infected,” Dominguez said.
- “In children what we’re seeing is a croup-like presentation, and croup is really inflammation of the upper airways as opposed to the lower airways, like your lungs,” Ahmed said.
Symptoms among children: Dr. Harish Chafle, a senior consultant of pulmonology and critical care at Global Hospital in Parel, Mumbai, told The Hindustan Times most children experience these COVID-19 symptoms when infected with omicron:
- Fever.
- Runny nose.
- Throat pain.
- Body ache.
- Dry cough.
Yes, but: The omicron variant has created a rise in severe COVID-19 symptoms and hospitalizations among unvaccinated children, as I reported for the Deseret News.
- Children under 5 years old proved to be most vulnerable because they are not eligible for COVID-19 vaccines.