Covid-19: How screening kids for virus will help curb spread

Dubai - Doctors across the UAE have said that testing kids can play an important role in preventing the virus from spreading.

As India has started implementing the new standard operating procedures for international travellers that includes mandatory Covid RT-PCR test for children of all ages, several expatriates have raised concerns about the “not so comfortable” nasal swab test to be done on infants and children below 10.

Doctors across the UAE have said that testing kids can play an important role in preventing the virus from spreading. Dr Shahid Gauhar, specialist neonatologist and peadiatrician at Prime Hospital, pointed that since studies suggest that children can be silent and fast spreaders of the virus, there is no harm in testing them before exposing them to a larger number of people during air travel.

“Children usually have mild or no symptoms in most cases and therefore can recover easily but the concern is that they can transmit the virus to others who are at a greater risk of developing severe symptoms such as adults or people with underlying conditions such as diabetes, lung diseases etc. This is because children are not particular about wearing mask and do not protect their cough and sneeze and also they are not too particular about sanitizing their hands. This can cause them to spread the germs unknowingly,” Dr Shahid said.

Calling the PCR test for children a blessing in disguise, Dr Manoj Kumar Jangid, specialist paediatrician at NMC Royal Hospital – DIP, said the test could help parents know if their child is infected or not as then they can give him the right care needed during the infection.

“Although, fewer children have been sick with Covid-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus, get sick and can spread the virus to others and can be asymptomatic too and spread the virus, therefore, testing is the only way to make sure what illness has affected your child – flu or Covid as both have similar symptoms.”

He added that although PCR nasal swab test maybe inconvenient and uncomfortable for the child but is considered most reliable in detecting the Covid infection. “The PCR test done through nasal swab can be done on children of any age. Though more convenient is a saliva test or even a throat swab but the PCR test is considered to be the gold standard for detection of Covid-19 as it is mostly while breathing through the nose the virus can get into our naso-pharyngeal cavity,” Dr Kumar explained talking about the importance of the PCR nasal swab test.

saman@khaleejtimes.com