Perugia – Science and the old proverb: Covid cures when there is also a child in the house. Young warriors are often without weapons, who face the virus with the power of their small body. Among the worst affected by the recent wave, many are still without vaccinations, and they are the only ones who do not have real protection until a certain age, but they are also a small army that the invisible beast fights with with an open smile after sneezing. However, they are clearly Mom and Dad’s number one problem, the fear that the virus in the body will become something else, perhaps in a few years, and the horror that turns into an earthquake of earthquakes in notorious parenting conversations. “Have you read about the potential complications?” “Do you have a strong cough, is your cough also drowning?” “He’s 37 and 2, I’ll take him to the emergency room right away.”
An encyclopedia of anxiety should be administered quietly instead. Rely on science and who studied it. “Trust, is the only way.” This was repeated for some time by Gianluca Totteri, a well-known pediatrician and deputy mayor of Perugia, who only two weeks ago participated in a remote meeting promoted by President Francesco Gatti Post, and with him the professor. “In a comprehensive way why children between 5 and 11 years old are vaccinated against Covid,” explained Franco Locatelli, President of the Supreme Council of Health. Totteri answers the messenger amidst three hundred phone calls a day, an average of this period, between Omicron at the door and seasonal influences.
Dr. Tuteri, how is the situation?
“As in all winters, many other viruses circulate as well, but with Omicron around symptoms until Covid proves otherwise. Once we rule out positivity, we think of something else. But for now the virus is circulating.”
Let’s start right away from the worst situation, a nightmare for parents who instead need reassurance. If you have a child with coronavirus, are there any complications?
“The problem is the number of cases, complications – albeit rare – are present and are clearly increasing due to the number of infections. The so-called Kawasaki syndrome is a complication, a multi-inflammatory disease that occurs as a result of a viral infection. Any infection can produce it: if that happens, Covid still has a good outcome in most cases, it can be dealt with with treatment and the possibility of recovery.”
Do you have few patients in hospital at the moment?
“Fortunately no. Even in children, there is a potential for prolongation of typical symptoms of the disease, but these are modest numbers. That is also why I urge parents to vaccinate their children. Rely on science: because it is also true that in these cases we must also look at absolute numbers. Thirty-five deaths in children’s age in Italy compared to hundreds of thousands of adults are low, but still thirty-five children are victims of the epidemic, significant numbers compared to any other infectious disease. ”
In short, the vaccine and attention. But what is the home management of a young patient with COVID?
“As with all viral respiratory infections, mainstream management must, in almost all cases, counter the old adage of the three Ls, which I often quote. L as “bed”, i.e. rest, which helps the immune system to react, “wool” as heat, and “milk”: it is important to continue with the usual diet, while increasing the essential fluids. At three liters, I then like to add a C of “cuddling”: it is good for the baby, increases endorphins, makes him feel better and speeds up the healing process. In case of symptoms, after consulting a pediatrician, agree to paracetamol, if possible, even against the pain caused by infection. ”
What symptoms should you watch out for?
“Difficulty breathing, with very short or frequent breaths. But also other symptoms that may appear out of the ordinary, such as excessive sleepiness or not doing the usual daily activities: all situations that should be reported to the pediatrician. The doctor knows how to deal with them, it is part of our skills, we know the family and the child and we have learned to manage these situations even by phone. The pediatrician knows what to filter, and understands whether it is right to visit or not. Avoid inappropriate admission to hospital.
So, with interest but without worry. Talking to your doctor and not trusting “what I read on the internet”…
“We must follow what is stated in scientific studies. I, for example, feel that I can only give messages linked with irrefutable scientific evidence. The rest is science fiction. At the moment, there are three studies, for example, they say that Omicron is less pathogenic, less severe and less severe, but remember that at the moment there have been no reviews, and the results have not yet been validated. Sure, it looks more prevalent, like measles. The cases are so many, and they are increasing so fast, when have we ever had such a high numerator in Umbria? ».
In the past few days there have been more than three thousand times every 24 hours…
“And they’re the only ones we know because they’re in trouble… Well, when you criticize the regional health system, you’re not being honest. Even if it were different, we would have gotten the same results: it is not possible to keep up with such a variable, so it is contagious even if most people are better off than Delta. And there’s no need for more tracers: the real problem will be when doctors fail because of infection. There it will be really difficult.”
the solution?
“The vaccine. The health system now has priority in implementing the third dose which gives us protection that is not possible with the second dose. If you lose 25 percent coverage after 10 weeks of testing, a later boost should be considered. And to make the vaccine mandatory for the safety of all citizens. “He is afraid, he is afraid. But quoting from the title of a book I appreciate, distrust is good, but distrust is worse.”
Bottom line, belief in science and no teachers at the University of Life?
“Science is not democratic at all, it is a fact. When it comes to scientific data, the results are indisputable. The best protection we can give ourselves is a vaccine.”
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