Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19 has been labelled as the variant of concern by WHO. It was first identified in South Africa Although this new variant is believed to be less severe than the Delta variant from studies however it shouldn’t be taken lightly or considered mild. The Omicron variant is spreading faster than other Covid variants and WHO believes that it will outpace the Delta variant based on available information. Further studies are still going on and it’s still too early to draw a conclusion.
Omicron Symptoms
According to WHO, there is no information that suggests that Omicron symptoms can be different from the other Covid-19 variants. However, Omicron symptoms may vary from common to severe ones. The most common symptoms are fever, cough, tiredness, loss of taste or smell. Some may get less common symptoms like headache, sore throat, body pain, diarrhoea etc. Severe symptoms may include breathlessness, congestion, chest pain etc.
Chances of children getting infected
Some studies show that children have a lower risk of hospitalisation due to Covid and those who had gone through it had comorbidity cases. Severe cases associated with MIS-C or multi-system inflammatory Syndrome in children have been reported very few in India. The symptomatic cases in children are found to be low and therefore the reported cases are also low. As the previous variants of Covid also did not increase the susceptibility in children, Omicron may also be less likely to increase the risk in children.
However, Dr Sanjeev Bagai on India Today emphasizes why children require vaccination, the reason is to not allow or upsurge of infections and that vaccines are always a preventive modality. He also said that children carry the same virus loads and almost 49.5% of children have an asymptomatic carrier state and these children have the same kind of long Covid effect including in the brain and the heart about 6 months to 12 months later. He said studies have shown that unvaccinated children in an otherwise vaccinated household, if there is one child unvaccinated in the house, 42% increase risk and if it’s 2,3 or 4, it goes up to 78% increase risk.
How to protect your children and family from Omicron
There are no different ways of protecting ourselves from Omicron. We just need to follow the same rule as we have been following for the previous variants.
-Wear mask
-Keep a distance of 1meter
-Keep washing your hands
-Avoided crowded place
-Keep indoors ventilated
-Get vaccinated
Dr Ghebreyesus, head of WHO stated that Omicron has been spreading at a rate we haven’t seen in any other variant so far. He also added, “We are also concerned that people are dismissing Omicron as mild. Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our own peril.”
Covid-19 is not bidding us goodbye anytime soon. We should not underestimate its mutating power. At best, we should do our best to protect ourselves and our children.
Omicron Symptoms
According to WHO, there is no information that suggests that Omicron symptoms can be different from the other Covid-19 variants. However, Omicron symptoms may vary from common to severe ones. The most common symptoms are fever, cough, tiredness, loss of taste or smell. Some may get less common symptoms like headache, sore throat, body pain, diarrhoea etc. Severe symptoms may include breathlessness, congestion, chest pain etc.
Chances of children getting infected
Some studies show that children have a lower risk of hospitalisation due to Covid and those who had gone through it had comorbidity cases. Severe cases associated with MIS-C or multi-system inflammatory Syndrome in children have been reported very few in India. The symptomatic cases in children are found to be low and therefore the reported cases are also low. As the previous variants of Covid also did not increase the susceptibility in children, Omicron may also be less likely to increase the risk in children.
However, Dr Sanjeev Bagai on India Today emphasizes why children require vaccination, the reason is to not allow or upsurge of infections and that vaccines are always a preventive modality. He also said that children carry the same virus loads and almost 49.5% of children have an asymptomatic carrier state and these children have the same kind of long Covid effect including in the brain and the heart about 6 months to 12 months later. He said studies have shown that unvaccinated children in an otherwise vaccinated household, if there is one child unvaccinated in the house, 42% increase risk and if it’s 2,3 or 4, it goes up to 78% increase risk.
How to protect your children and family from Omicron
There are no different ways of protecting ourselves from Omicron. We just need to follow the same rule as we have been following for the previous variants.
-Wear mask
-Keep a distance of 1meter
-Keep washing your hands
-Avoided crowded place
-Keep indoors ventilated
-Get vaccinated
Dr Ghebreyesus, head of WHO stated that Omicron has been spreading at a rate we haven’t seen in any other variant so far. He also added, “We are also concerned that people are dismissing Omicron as mild. Surely, we have learned by now that we underestimate this virus at our own peril.”
Covid-19 is not bidding us goodbye anytime soon. We should not underestimate its mutating power. At best, we should do our best to protect ourselves and our children.
Related Articles
Terrible Twos - Is your baby turning 2? Here's what to expect
by Shivangini Gupta
The terrible twos don't have to be so terrible If...
3:28 mins read
A Note From A Mother On Her Baby’s First Day of School
by Rinda Angom
In the life of a new parent, every milestone is...
5 mins read
Importance of Teaching the Concept of Consent to Children.
by Rinda Angom
Importance of Consent Education for your child Consent education is...
3 mins read
How to take care of newborns in cold weather & from changing weather
by Rinda Angom
While it’s a challenge to keep your baby cosy and...
2 mins read
Maternity Hospital Bag Must-Haves
by Rinda Angom
If you are searching for a hospital bag checklist and...
2 mins read
Get to know about twin infection- FLURONA
by Rinda Angom
The Covid variant, Omicron infection continue to surge globally as...
2 mins read
Are Children More Susceptible to Omicron?
by Rinda Angom
Omicron, the new variant of Covid-19 has been labelled as...
2 mins read
Gift Ideas To Make Your Munchkin’s Christmas A Fun One
by Rinda Angom
Secret Santa is a popular Christmas tradition. As Christmas is...
3 mins read
How To Deal With Mom Guilt/Parent Guilt
by Rinda Angom
As a working parent, you got to manage both your...
4 mins read
How To Boost Your kids’ Immunity
by Rinda Angom
With the coming of variants of Corona Virus and pollution,...
2 mins read
How To Stay Safe From Zika Virus
by Rinda Angom
Zika virus was first discovered in 1947 in the Zika...
2 mins read
DOs & DON'Ts Of Going Back To School
by Rinda Angom
Delhi government announced the reopening of schools from November 1....
2mins read
How Prepared Is India For Children’s Covid Vaccination
by Rinda Angom
The government is paying attention to the immunization of children...
3 mins read
5 Cool DIY Halloween Costumes For Kids
by Rinda Angom
Halloween is right around the corner and it’s super exciting...
3 mins read
How To Sleep Train Your Baby & Inculcate Better Habits
by Rinda Angom
Good night sleep is important for maintaining good mental and...
4 mins read
Pregnancy During Covid Times & Postpartum with Rachel Goenka
by Rinda Angom
Pregnancy isn’t easy, women go through a lot and when...
4 mins read
Parents Not Satisfied With Online Schooling
by Rinda Angom
Every kid waits for a holiday or vacation and to...
3mins read
Tanya Khubchandani, The Perfect Millennial Mom
by Rinda Angom
This time on our Meet the Mom podcast, we bring...
3mins read
1 In 10 Parents Not Planning To Vaccinate Their Children
by Rinda Angom
The vaccination for children in India is under its way...
4 mins read
Master Class for Dealing with Sibling Rivalry
by Rinda Angom
Sibling rivalry is inevitable if there is more than one...
4 mins read
10 Best personality development techniques for children
by Rinda Angom
Every person has their own personality. Personality is defined as...
4 mins read
Meditation For Kids- Techniques, Tips & Benefits
by Rinda Angom
Studies show that kids in this generation are more stressed...
4 mins read
Pregnant women in India can now get Covid vaccination
by Rinda Angom
The Health Ministry has accepted NTAGI’s recommendations and pregnant women...
5 mins read
Ananta Goyal on blogging tips & tricks
by Rinda Angom
On our Meet the Mom podcast, Neha Sood, Brand Head...
7 mins read
Impact of Covid-19 on children’s mental health
by Rinda Angom
Covid-19 pandemic has affected all of us in various ways,...
7 mins read
Covid-19 Vaccination and Women
by Rinda Angom
Even after the nightmare caused by the Covid-19 2nd wave...
4 mins read
newborn ·
How Can I Help My Colicky Baby Sleep?by Rinda Angom
Does your newborn baby start crying incessantly to go on...
3 mins read
newborn ·
How To Sleep Train Your Baby?by Rinda Angom
The arrival of a baby is inarguably the best event...
4 mins read
newborn ·
A Baby Sleep Consultant’s Guide to helping your newborn sleepby Rinda Angom
Quite evidently, having a baby is as daunting as joyous...
4 mins read
toddler ·
Breakfast Recipes for Toddlersby Rinda Angom
5 Fun Breakfast Recipes for Toddlers and their Health Benefits...
4 mins read
Art, Colours and Children!
by Rinda Angom
Have you noticed how children’s classrooms, reading books, hospital wings,...
4 mins read
Everything you need to know about breastfeeding
by Rinda Angom
First Golden Hour A newborn has an innate ability to...
4 mins read
toddler ·
5 Tasty And Nutritious Lunch Box Recipes For Kidsby Rinda Angom
Is making your kids eat healthy food a struggle? It’s...
4 mins read
newborn ·
Newborn Sleep Cycleby Rinda Angom
For new parents handling and understanding the needs of baby...
4 mins read
newborn ·
Safe co sleeping with newbornby Rinda Angom
When your young child comes, they are so precious. You...
3 min read
How to Get Kids to be More Physically Active and Healthy during this Pandemic?
by Rinda Angom
COVID-19 had made it challenging for parents to balance work...
4 mins read
newborn ·
Baby Massage Oils: Some to Use, Which to Skip?by Rinda Angom
Whenever anybody asks me about baby massage, the first thing...
5 mins read
newborn ·
Baby Massage 101: The Why, When, and How?by Rinda Angom
Having a baby is one of the best feelings in...
5 mins read
The Best Parenting Quotes for the New-Generation Parents
by Rinda Angom
Parenting is a no mean task by any measure. It...
4 mins read
25 Pregnancy Quotes that Sum it All Up!
by Rinda Angom
For most of us, pregnancy is a result of constant...
4 mins read
Parenting resolutions for 2021
by Rinda Angom
Parenting, as all other parents would agree, is no cakewalk....
5 mins read
How to swaddle a baby in a correct way
by Rinda Angom
Swaddling is a technique of wrapping a baby with a...
3 mins read
newborn ·
Bathing Babies: Everything You Must Knowby Rinda Angom
Babies don’t come with manuals, but if they did, I...
4 mins read
Your Pregnancy Week-by-Week Guide
by Rinda Angom
When you are pregnant for the first time, you have...
7 mins read
Pregnancy Photoshoot – Capture Your Pregnancy in Pictures
by Rinda Angom
Pregnancy photoshoot is a lovely way to capture the time...
4 min read
Pregnancy Foods to Avoid
by Rinda Angom
Several women, who have been there, would agree that while...
4 mins read
newborn ·
Here’s Every Reason Why you Must Breastfeed your Babyby Rinda Angom
Breastfeeding is a perfectly natural process but deciding whether you...
6 mins read
Is Your Baby Teething? Here are the signs to look out for
by Rinda Angom
Teething is an important milestone for your baby. When you...
4 mins read
newborn ·
What are the benefits of feeding pillow and how to use it ?by Rinda Angom
We all desire and look for comfort and ease while...
4 mins read