Covid remains the main cause of respiratory syndrome in children aged 5 and over

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Hospitalizations due to Covid respiratory syndrome remain prevalent in children aged 5 to 11 in the country.

While in babies from zero to 4 years old, around 60% of the reported cases of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) were caused by RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), in older age groups, including children and adolescents aged 12 to 17 years , Covid cases are the leading cause of respiratory illness in the last month.

The data are from the latest newsletter InfoGripe, from Fiocruz (Oswaldo Cruz Foundation), which monitors the epidemiological situation in the country.

The analysis is performed by summing the cases of Srag in the last four epidemiological weeks (period from December 11, 2022 to January 7, 2023) with a known causative agent, that is, when the viral panel test is performed to investigate which virus cause of the syndrome.

While infections still remain high in the elderly and adults over 40, children aged 5 to 11 and adolescents aged 12 to 17 have been discharged from SARS cases by Covid. Sars-CoV-2 accounted for nearly 80% of all SARS admissions in the period across all age groups.

“Covid continues to be the main reason for hospitalization due to respiratory problems in the adolescent and adult population. This is what the notification data has shown us”, explains Fiocruz researcher and InfoGripe coordinator, Marcelo Gomes.

Gomes warns of the low vaccination coverage of children, around 39%. Since the last day 4, the Ministry of Health has recommended the application of a booster dose in the range of 5 to 11 years, but even the dose coverage remains low in the child population.

“It calls our attention that, unfortunately, currently a significant portion of the population has been in doubt as to whether or not it is worth vaccinating children and adolescents”, he pointed out.

Vaccination against Covid is fundamental in children, as studies already show that the infection can lead to cardiological and even neurological sequelae in this age range as well. Research shows that even mild cases of Covid can cause sequels that last up to a year.

In addition, many children in Brazil died from Covid and others from SIM-P, pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome, associated with post-Covid.

“The vaccine is our main mechanism to protect our health and our lives against Covid”, said the researcher.

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