Omicron, the new symptom that scares: “It could be dangerous». In Italy, the curves of the Covid-19 epidemic begin to decline, with a decrease in the incidence rate and hospitalizations. But at the same time there is an increase in reinfections driven by Omicron 2 and the new BA sub-variants. 4 and BA.5. Subvariants characterized by a high degree of transmissibility and immunoevasion.
But what are the symptoms associated with Omicron and its “sisters“? According to a recent hospital study published in the rivista Pediatricsthe new variant of Covid-19 caused a spike in cases of children and infants with a potentially serious respiratory condition. Data from the new study sheds light on the risks of infection for the first time. Here’s what it is.
Omicron, croup spikes in children
The new research focused on Omicron cases in a large Massachusetts children’s hospital. The results confirmed the hypothesis put forward by health professionals: that the latest variant causes more cases of laringotracheobronchite (or croup) in younger children than in previous lineages. That Covid-19 is associated with this disease in some children is nothing new. But cases have increased significantly with the advent of Omicron.
In infantsthat have tiny airways and are not yet eligible for Covid vaccination, Omicron appears to represent a new risk. In the study, the researchers, led by pediatrician Ryan Brewster of Boston Children’s Hospital, analyzed the medical records of the children who had both Covid and croup. Medical records refer to the period between March 19, 2020 and January 15, 2022.
The researchers identified only 75 cases, but 61 of these (or 81%) occurred during the first month and a half of the Omicron wave, from December 4, 2021 to January 15, 2022. Not only that. The croup cases associated with Covid appear to have a more serious trend than those caused by other viral infections.
What is croup or seal cough
Croup is an upper respiratory tract condition in which inflammation and swelling develop in the larynx and trachea, putting your breathing at risk. In essence, it is an acute narrowing of the larynx or larynx and trachea, characterized by the sudden appearance of a barking cough associated with stridor and hoarseness. Due to the particular sound of the cough it is also called seal cough. It mainly affects the upper airways of infants and young children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years.
