Are kids contracting virus first , passing it on to adults?

Though the number of children getting infected with Covid-19 is on the rise, they experience far too milder symptoms than adults. They often recover in a day or two of fever.

However, many families complained that the children were the first to contract the virus and it later spread to the adult members with greater severity. The adults suffer cold, cough, and fever and it subsides only after 3-4 days.

Pushpa, a teacher from Malleshwaram said, “First thing was my son started coughing and he developed a fever. We were all thinking it is the normal fever as he was just 6-year-old, and the fever vanished after just one night. The next day all of us, including my parents, began experiencing fever, chills, and cough.”

“My parents did not step out; I did not step out as I had to conduct online classes and my husband is working from home. The only contact with the outside world was only my son, who plays badminton every evening with his friends. Even there, he tries to observe precautions, but he still felt sick,” she added.

In some families, though everyone had contact with the outside world, it is their children who showed the symptom and later everyone suffered Covid-19.

Suraj, a techie said, “It was my daughter who first got the fever and chills. We did consult the doctor and gave her the medicines. Within a day, I caught fever and cold. Then, one after the other everyone in the family fell sick. I think we need to protect our kids. Now that they have online classes and they are going out to meet their friends in the evening time, we need to be really careful.”

Dr Rajath Athreya, Senior Consultant and HOD – Paediatrics & Neonatology, Sakra World Hospital said “We are witnessing the same case as observed in both UK and South Africa that children show the symptoms a bit earlier with short illness with high fever. Adults may show symptoms later. It is difficult to find out who got infected first. Most children and adults are recovering well and only need paracetamol.”

“Young children will always be under the care of their parents. Parents should take care of themselves by taking adequate precautions,” added Dr Athreya.