Top Pediatrician’s Opinion on How to Protect Your Kids From Covid-19 Third Wave

There is a lot of talk going on about preparing for the third wave, with a lot of debate on how the COVID-19 third wave might impact kids.

The unavailability of vaccines for kids has caused panic amongst parents on how to safeguard their children from this deadly virus and help them stay healthy.

To shed light on this matter, Team Fitterfly spoke to a renowned expert in paediatrics — Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar, a Consultant Pediatrician with 30+ years of experience in this field.

He practices at multiple hospitals at Navi Mumbai, including Apollo hospitals, Kamlesh Mother & Child Hospital, and Terna Sahyadri Speciality Hospital.

Here are answers to the 7 FAQs that will help you make informed decisions for your child’s health and safety during COVID-19 third wave:

Team Fitterfly: Will the third wave of COVID-19 prove more dangerous for kids? If yes, then why is it so?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar: First of all, let us understand that the waves of COVID-19 are arbitrary and do not exist as water-tight compartments.

The second wave has not yet gone in certain parts of the world, and the third wave has already started. In India, as we speak, certain northeast states and a few parts of Maharashtra are continuing with the second wave.

So we should not feel that the second wave is over in our country. It is all going to be a mix. There won’t be complete normalcy in-between that is followed by a new wave.

When COVID-19 struck us for the first time in March 2020, senior citizens (65 to 80 years of age) with comorbidities lost their lives due to the novel infection.

Then came the second wave that infected the young people (30- 45 years of age) who suffered several COVID-related complications and subsequent deaths.

So this made us think that probably these two age groups have already got some seroprotection (protection against the virus), so now next time, people have started assuming that the third wave will be dangerous for kids (less than 18 years of age).

However, the impact of the COVID-19 third wave on kids is just a speculation. It is not at all proved that it is going to be dangerous for the kids.

But parents must ensure that their kids shouldn’t lower their guard (masks etc.), especially for another 6-8 months till the entire country’s significant population gets vaccinated.

Team Fitterfly: Is it true that new variants of COVID-19 are predominantly affecting children more?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar: No, that’s not true. The coronavirus is undergoing random mutations and making its new variants.

These new variants are more transmissible and cause more significant diseases in those who are not vaccinated. It can infect anybody from 0-100 years and not only kids.

The delta variant of COVID-19 originated in the Vidarbha region of Maharashtra; today, 111 countries are witnessing it.

One needs to understand that the random variations or mutations in the structure of the virus can be both beneficial or harmful for the virus itself.

Team Fitterfly: What should parents do if they suspect that their child has got infected with the virus?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar: If you suspect that your child is having symptoms of COVID-19 like fever, cough, breathlessness etc, it is best to get tested. You can get the antigen test or RT-PCR tests for free at the government set-ups.

Team Fitterfly: How to distinguish between common cold and COVID-19 in kids?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar: There are many overlapping symptoms between the common cold and COVID-19. But as the name goes by, in the common cold, you will notice a running nose (typical symptom), sore throat and headache. Fever is usually NOT associated with the common cold.

However, symptoms of high-grade fever, cough, breathlessness, severe body ache or myalgia, headache, loss of taste and smell are more commonly seen if your child has COVID-19 infection.

Additionally, suppose your child has a positive history of contact with an adult with similar COVID-like symptoms. In that case, you can confirm the diagnosis of COVID-19 by getting your kid tested against the virus.

Team Fitterfly: How do we protect the children from the impending third wave without being vaccinated?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar: Everybody in the family has the responsibility to protect the child from COVID-19. You can do this by following the COVID-appropriate behaviour that includes getting the adults vaccinated.

• First and foremost, all family members above 18 years of age should get vaccinated irrespective of their health conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, pregnancy, diabetes, tuberculosis, PCOS, breastfeeding mothers etc. You can speak to your doctor if you have any underlying conditions that are preventing you from taking the vaccine.
• Secondly, if your child has got COVID-like symptoms, then get them tested.
• Ask your child to wear the mask, follow hand hygiene, maintain social distance and other standard precautions when your child goes out of the house.
• Lastly, please do not limit your child to the four walls of your house. Instead, allow them to play with the kids of their age. If your child is playing together with other children where all the adults are vaccinated, there is less risk of virus transmission among them.

So as a parent, you can ask other parents if they have got vaccinated against COVID-19 so that the chances of the kids becoming a carrier are less. The chances of them falling ill due to the virus also reduce drastically.

Team Fitterfly: Are there any immunity-boosting foods that can be given to a child before the third wave?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar: If there is one industry that has mushroomed during this pandemic it is the immunity-boosting medicines.

But, there is no such thing as an immunity-boosting pill, and you cannot build your immunity overnight. It is a long-drawn process. Building a healthy immunity is a lifestyle process, and it depends on the food you eat, sleeping pattern, mental health, exercise.

All these factors play a role in your immunity, and diet is just one part of it.

Of course, having a well-balanced diet with the correct proportion of carbs, proteins, fats, fibre, vitamins, and minerals will help in improving your child’s immunity. Avoiding junk foods, exercising regularly, and getting 8-hours of sleep are equally important to keep infections at bay.

Please do not fall prey to false marketing gimmicks that promise to strengthen your child’s immunity by using certain products. Immunity building for kids requires holistic lifestyle management.

Team Fitterfly: What healthy lifestyle habits should parents encourage in their children to promote their emotional and physical health in this ongoing pandemic?

Dr Upendra Kinjawadekar:  Living indoors for the last year and a half has raised a lot of emotional problems in kids these days.

• To begin with, parents should also have balanced emotional health to support their child’s mental health. They should not panic or get frustrated as they will pass on the stress to their kids.
• Secondly, as a parent, you should pick certain clues like if the child is furious, has increased irritability, frequently wets the bed, is feeling clingy, uses gadgets excessively, doesn’t show interest in any activities, cries incessantly and shows hopelessness.

In many kids, I have seen changes in diet, weight and sleep. Therefore, parents should watch out for if their child loses their appetite or starts binge eating, suddenly gains (leading to obesity) or loses weight, has trouble falling asleep or sleeps more than usual.

If you notice any of these signs, then your child needs help. First, start spending time with them, talk to them and listen to their concerns.

But, do not offer simple solutions or instant remedies. Instead, get involved in your child’s day-to-day activities by making a daily schedule (which I am sure everyone has in place by now).

• Appreciate whatever good work that your child does.
• Get connected with your child and with their friends too. Allow them to talk to their friend over a video call.
• Allow your child to go out to play with their friends and make a structure at home where they do some physical activity at home every day.
• Explore and motivate your child’s hidden talents like playing an instrument, dancing, singing etc. Accordingly, go ahead and get them enrolled in an extracurricular activity class of their interest – even if the classes are online.

By taking care of their physical and emotional health, I am sure most kids will cope well with this pandemic.

To sum it all, here is the final takeaway message from Dr Kinjawadekar — Vaccinate yourself, parents, and encourage your children for good physical activity with a well-balanced diet to protect your child from this ongoing pandemic.

To this effect, Team Fitterfly has created a personalised Pediatric Nutrition & Wellness Program to support your child’s growing needs – GoodStart. Experts from GoodStart will motivate your child to eat healthy, exercise routinely and sleep on time that will help in improving their overall immunity.

To know more, visit https://www.fitterfly.com/goodstart or call us at 022 4897 1077 (ext. 5) for more information.

Watch a video on how GoodStart- a personalised pediatric lifestyle management program will safeguard your child’s health at the different stages of development.