Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of people were under uncertain lockdown. It results in shutting down routine activities. For a while, it seems like everything is getting better with mandating masks, increasing vaccination, social distancing, and promoting handwashing.
However, the second wave, due to the delta strain of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was more devastating than the first wave. Studies show that the new mutant variant is more contiguous and causes more severe complications than the previous Coronavirus variants. Children are also affected by the delta variant of the virus.
[Also Read: Tips to manage covid-19 in children]
Why The Coronavirus Is Mutating?
Mutation is a term used to define the process of changing the genomic structure of the virus. A genome is a set of instructions that contain all the necessary information required for the functioning of the virus.
During the replication process, the set of the genome requires it to be copied. However, if the process is interrupted or any mistake occurs, it can lead to mutation. The interruption can either weaken its virulence or may make it more contagious.
In the case of the COVID-19 virus, the more it circulates in a population, the more it has the opportunity to enhance the process of replication. The more it replicates – the more it has chances to undergo changes resulting in a frequent mutation.
What Is The Covid-19 Delta Variant?
COVID-19 delta variant is more contagious than the previous strains of SARS-CoV-2. It results in the second wave in India. Most of the symptoms of the delta variant were similar to the previous strain. The common symptoms are headache, cough, fever, headache, and sore throat. However, other additional symptoms due to the delta variant include a change in skin color, hearing impairment, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and other gastrointestinal symptoms. People with both doses of vaccines may also get infected with delta variants. However, the current vaccines hold significant efficacy against this variant. A single person infected with original Coronavirus spread the infection to one or two people. However, a person infected with a delta variant has the potential to spread it to three or four persons, resulting in a rapid increase in the infection rate.
Is Delta Variant Dangerous In Children?
Delta variant is a concerning matter for the children. The previous version of Coronavirus is less severe than the delta variant and less transmissible. The delta variant is twice more transmissible than the original Coronavirus strain. The increased cases and quick spread among children is a worrying situation.
According to some comprehensive studies of the United Kingdom, children are less likely to develop severe conditions. Some children may have a risk of getting a rare condition known as a multisystem inflammatory syndrome. In this condition, the children experience inflammation in several organs.
What Are The Measures To Keep Children Protected From Delta Variants?
Parents are worried about the health of their children due to physical and emotional reasons. The children do not have mature immune systems and thus are more prone to severe complications if infected with COVID-19. Further, due to emotional attachment, parents did want to witness the suffering of their children that initiates through simple cough and fever and ends up in the ICU. Surprisingly, the proper precaution can limit the risk of getting affected by the virus. Parents can follow the following ways to protect their children.
- Wearing mask
- Complete scheduled vaccination
- Encouraging frequent hand wash
- Regular testing and quarantine
- Promote distancing about 3-6 feet in schools
- People around children must get a vaccination
- Good ventilation
- Avoiding crowded places
Conclusion
The situation becomes tender for parents. Parents should vaccinate to prevent their children from getting a virus until vaccines are available for children. They should limit their visits to crowded places and closed places. Kids should also be encouraged to wear masks. Masking can reduce the risk of acquiring the virus. People around the kids should get vaccinated as the studies show vaccines are effective against delta variants. Following safety measures given by CDC and taking vaccination can decrease the risk of getting affected by the virus to a large extent.
Rohit Jain is an IPR Specialist and Medical Content Writing Expert. For over a decade, he has written several articles in the areas of female infertility, Erectile dysfunction, hemangioma, cervical cancer, monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance, mononucleosis, mitral valve disorder, shin splints, mild cognitive impairment, cellulitis, lymphoma, sepsis, cardiac rehabilitation and more.
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