The dominance of the Omicron variant indicates a new complication of the condition, in which an increasing number of children have acute laryngitis in addition to Covid-19, resulting in hospitalizations.
The rise in Omicron instances has resulted in a previously unknown COVID-19 consequence in young children: laryngitis. In newborns and preschool children, it is the most prevalent cause of acute upper airway blockage.
According to research published in Pediatrics, clinicians at Boston Children’s Hospital detail 75 cases of children who presented to the hospital’s Emergency Department with laryngitis and COVID-19 between March 1, 2020 and January 15, 2022. The cases that were documented were laryngotracheitis. When the stenosis just affects the larynx, we call it laryngitis; when it extends to the trachea, which is a continuation of the larynx, we call it laryngotracheitis.
Laryngitis is a common respiratory infection that primarily affects infants and children under the age of five. The strong cough and noisy inhalations are typical. Colds and other viral infections induce inflammation and swelling, which leads to this condition. Its symptoms start with a runny nose and dry mouth, and can range from mild to severe, with or without a temperature. Shortness of breath, a distinctive sound when the child inhales (whistling), a hoarse voice, and an unpleasant, paroxysmal cough are the most common symptoms (like a dog barking). Since the symptoms are similar to those of other infections, a pediatrician’s clinical examination is very important. It can cause dangerous respiratory issues in severe cases, such as those seen in Boston. Their duration, however, varies but does not surpass seven days.
When compared to laryngitis caused by other causes, some cases of coronavirus laryngitis were deemed particularly serious, necessitating hospitalization and higher pharmaceutical use.
COVID-19 animal research has indicated that the new Omicron variant has a superior respiratory preference over existing target variants, according to Ryan Brewster, the report’s author and a specialist in Boston Pediatrics. The lower respiratory tract is primarily affected. This is why laryngitis is briefly linked to an increase in Omicron instances.
The results of the study
The majority of children with COVID-19 and laryngitis were under the age of two, and 72 percent of them were boys, according to the disease’s usual pattern. Despite the fact that no children died, 9 of the 75 children who developed laryngitis as a result of COVID-19 needed to be hospitalized, with four of them requiring critical care.
Dexamethasone, a steroid, was given to 97 percent of the youngsters. All of the children were given racemic epinephrine via nebulizer, which was meant for moderate to severe instances. To control symptoms, those who were hospitalized required an average of 6 dexamethasone doses and 8 epinephrine respiratory treatments.
“Most cases can be treated in outpatient clinics with dexamethasone and supportive care,” Brewster said.
“The relatively high rate of hospitalization and the large number of doses of drugs required suggest that COVID-19 may cause more severe laryngitis than other viruses,” but more research is needed to address it much more immediately.
Tips for parents
Parents can care for their children with minor laryngitis symptoms at home by inhaling water vapor, but they should see a pediatrician if the symptoms do not go away or worsen, such as:
- Frequent noisy inhalations and intense paroxysmal cough
- Breathing difficulty
- Fatigue and drowsiness
- Blue lips or fingertips
- Fever over 38 degrees Celsius
- Symptoms lasting more than 7 days
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