Irrational use of Steroids helped spread Black Fungus: Dr Paul

Amid concerns over a probable third wave of the Coronavirus pandemic, the Centre has said children are not immune from the infection, but the impact is minimal. "If children get affected by Covid, either there will be no symptoms or there will be minimal symptoms. They do not require hospitalisation generally," Niti Aayog (health) member VK Paul said on Saturday, during the press briefing of the Union health ministry in News Delhi. Health infrastructure should be ramped up to treat Covid-19 among children, but it is most important to not let them become a part of the transmission chain in the first place,he said.

"Some facts are clear that Children can be infected and they can be infected to quite an extent. It can't be said with certainty that the infection among children is comparatively less. For example, the December-January serosurvey revealed that the seropositivity rate among children and older is almost the same," Dr Paul said. Children account for about 3-4 per cent of hospital admission, in both India and the rest of the world, he said adding special attention should be on those between the age of 10 and 12 years as they are very mobile.

Dr Paul said that irrational and uncontrolled use of steroids on Covid-19 patients has helped spread the fungal infection. "Steroids are wonder drugs that help save lives. But administering them to Covid-19 patients before the appropriate time, giving unnecessarily high doses, administering it without its need, and continuing their use for undue time are not part of their appropriate and rational use in treatment of Covid-19 patients," Dr Paul said. He added that health professionals must ensure that patients are given proper doses and at the right time for steroids to be effective against Covid-19. Responding to concerns on shortage of injections to control this fungal infection, Dr Paul said the government has taken measures to ensure availability of medicines that are used in its treatment.