Parents in the UAE have been urged to keep at home their sick children who show signs of cough, runny nose, sore throat and chest congestation amid fears of the recent global spread of mutant coronavirus.
Health professionals said they have observed a minimum 20 per cent surge in pediatric patient visits following the reopening of schools in January.
In light of the above, doctors have advised parents to keep their sick children at home to contain the spread of the infection.
Dr Wafa Elfatih Ibrahim Mohamed Nourain, Specialist Paediatrics, Burjeel Day Surgery Center, Al Shahama said most children got sick on return from their holidays.
“Many children got sick after returning from their holiday. There is an increase in the patient influx with the beginning of school and children returning after the holidays. There is a 15-20 per cent increase in patient flow in my clinic compared to the last month’, she said.
She explained that several children are visiting the clinic due to symptoms of respiratory tract infections, “which vary in severity from simple flu to pneumonia in some cases.”
Dr Malak Shaheen, consultant of paediatrics and paediatric allergy at Thumbay University Hospital, Ajman added that most hospitals experienced a surge in paediatric patient footfall, with a notable increase of 35-40 per cent compared to last month.
Doctors emphasise a child’s immune system may temporarily become less active as a result of the break, leaving them more vulnerable to diseases from new germs they come into contact with at school.
Desmond Nleya, Daily Times
