THOUGH听CHILDREN听are unlikely to be a major source of community transmission of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), resuming face-to-face classes will have to occur in phases starting in听low-risk听areas,听according to pediatricians who participated in a听听organized by the University of the Philippines听(UP).听
鈥淭here are so many things to consider (but) there are many advantages of starting schooling because of the mental effect that the prolonged lack of (physical) schooling has caused our children,鈥 said Dr. Ma. Liza Antoinette M. Gonzales, a pediatric infectious disease specialist and associate dean at the UP College of Medicine,听at the virtual event titled 鈥淐OVID-19 in Children.鈥澨听
鈥淚f we are able to open our malls and business establishments, we also have to consider opening our schools (at some point).鈥听
The Department of Heatlh (DoH) case bulletin recorded 1,441,746听COVID-19 cases as of July听5.听Around听148,000 cases (approximately 10.6%) are patients below 20 years old, while 6.5% represent those听below听15 years old.听
鈥淒eath rates are low in younger age groups and increase with age,鈥 said听Dr. Joselyn A. Eusebio, president of the Philippine Pediatric Society,听emphasizing that this was consistent with reports around the world where children comprise 1鈥10% of the diagnosed COVID-19 cases.听
鈥楪ENERALLY MILD IN CHILDREN鈥听
鈥淐OVID-19 is generally mild in children, with better outcome compared to adults,鈥 said Dr. Gonzales, citing听a February 2021听听reviewing 10,251 pediatric patients across 31 countries that found fever (63.3%) and cough (33.7%) as the most common symptoms among children.听
Severe cases of COVID-19 in children, she added,听are usually due to听existing medical conditions听and comorbidities.听听
In an online registry focused on COVID-19 in children, the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines听recorded 972 cases in the country from July 3, 2020, to May 31, 2021, 38% of which听were mild;听25%,听moderate;听and 20%,听asymptomatic.听Critical cases accounted for听10%; severe cases, 7%.听
鈥淒ue to lack of more systematic testing of children, including children with mild symptoms as part of contact tracing, the true burden of infection in children is unclear,鈥 said Dr. Gonzales.听
BACK TO SCHOOL?听
Commenting on听President Rodrigo R. Duterte鈥檚 decision to turn down proposals of resuming in-person classes, Education Undersecretary Dr. Diosdado M. San Antonio said:听鈥淲e understand from the presentation of Dr. Gonzales that, indeed, kids may not be so prone to getting infected, but we also respect the decision of the President in putting premium on the health and safety of children and Filipinos.鈥听
DoH, for its part,听is听looking into a phased implementation of face-to-face classes after holding conversations with听educators and stakeholders.听
鈥淭here were a lot of recommendations set and presented by the body, but we have to start with maybe piloting it initially in certain areas of low risk and make sure that the school will have provisions for all the safety measures that need to be followed,鈥澨鼶r. Eusebio听said.听
Dr. Gonzales agreed听that caution and care need to be exercised when choosing the pilot听areas.听鈥淏efore we reopen schools, we have to consider: Is there ongoing community transmission? Are the teachers vaccinated? Are the schools鈥 infrastructure prepared, with enough ventilation and enough space to ensure that children have appropriate physical space?鈥澨齭he said.听鈥斕Bront毛 H. Lacsamana听
