COVID-19 Cases Among Newborns and Children Still High: American Academy of Pediatrics Reports

While COVID-19 cases are declining nationwide, the American Academy of Pediatrics reports that cases among newborns and children are still high.

“In January we had our highest month ever since the start of the pandemic in pediatrics. Luckily we’re starting to see a decline and we’re very happy about that,” said Dr. Christina Canody, BayCare Pediatric Service Line Medical Director.

Last month, hospitals around the country were flooded with children who needed to be hospitalized due to COVID-19.

Canody said, “This peak was more than double of any other month we’ve seen during the entire pandemic in our hospitals.”

Since the beginning of January, more than 4.5 million child COVID-19 cases have been reported.

Canody said, “Omicron has proven to be much more contagious, especially in younger children, and had more upper airway effects resulting in increased hospitalizations.”

As per Abcactionnews, doctors said they’ve seen more hospitalizations in one age group in particular.

“For the first time in January, almost 40% of our hospitalized children were under the age of five. So if you compare zero to four versus four to 18, that’s a very small age range to have 40% of the hospitalizations, so that’s why it makes it even more important that we get this vaccine available,” said Canody.

Vaccinations are still not available for children under the age of five.

Children have been admitted to hospitals as a result of COVID-19’s effects, according to doctors.

Canody stated, “We were seeing a lot of cases of croup or upper respiratory infection where there was swelling in the upper airway and required monitoring and medication therapy which has been different with the other variants.”
Locally pediatric hospitalizations are falling.

“We’re on track that our numbers are going to be less than half of what they were last month,” said Canody.

Although cases are starting to decline, health officials want people to know that omicron is still spreading, so they shouldn’t relax their vigilance.

While most COVID-19 cases in kids are mild, there are times when they should be taken to the hospital.

• difficulty creating or catching the breath
• inability to drink any liquids
• inability to wake up
• bluish lips