Majority of children with cancer recover from COVID without developing complications

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: At a time when parents are worried over the possibility of children being adversely infected by the third wave of COVID-19, here is a positive development. Doctors are claiming that the majority of children suffering from cancer have recovered from COVID-19 without developing complications.

Altogether 34 children at the Dr B Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) so far this year. Till Monday (July 5, 2021), as many as 30 children have recovered from COVID-19 without developing complications. Even though four children are yet to test COVID negative, they have not developed any complications.

In 2020, as many as 19 children at BBCI were infected with the COVID virus. Besides, three out of the 19 infected children had died last year. But the remaining 16 children recovered from COVID-19 without developing complications.

The Head of the Department of Medical Oncology at BBCI, Dr Munlima Hazarika has said that cancer patients normally have low immunity against any kind of infection including Covid. She added that the immunity level of cancer patients fast declines due to various treatments including chemotherapy.

"Under such circumstances, we were very concerned when 53 children at BBCI suffered from COVID-19 in 2020 and 2021. But 95% of the children have recovered from COVID without developing complications. Since children have high immunity they have recovered from COVID-19 despite suffering from cancer. This is a very positive development. Parents worried about possible COVID infection among their children should have patience. If children with cancer can defeat the COVID virus, those without any other health issue can easily recover. But children will have to follow COVID-19 safety protocols," Dr Hazarika said.

Another oncologist at the Gauhati Medical College & Hospital (GMCH) said that the study by the AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), New Delhi, and the WHO (World Health Organisation) found high seropositivity among children. The interim findings of the study have put at rest concerns that a possible third wave of COVID-19 might affect children more than the people in the other age groups, he added.

Seropositivity refers to the body's ability to mount a natural immune response to viruses.

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