COVID-19 symptoms have evolved in sixth wave: expert
COVID-19 has evolved in the sixth wave, presenting new symptoms among those infected, making it even more challenging to pinpoint the virus.
Dr. Charmaine van Schaik, former Chief of Pediatrics at Southlake Regional Hospital in Newmarket, said children have presented with a wide range of symptoms lately.
In the early stage of the pandemic, most would lose taste or smell and come down with a high fever after becoming infected.
In recent weeks, Dr. van Schaik said symptoms that parents might see in general with a sick child could now be COVID-19.
"A lot of what we're hearing and seeing is fatigue. It's those runny noses, mild congestive symptoms and sometimes some gastrointestinal symptoms with vomiting and diarrhea."
Based on data, COVID-19 is still rapidly spreading in parts of the province. Still, many experts believe Ontario has reached the peak of the sixth wave.
MYSTERY LIVER ILLNESS IN CHILDREN
Health officials worldwide report children are developing severe cases of hepatitis with no known cause, something an Ontario pediatrician says remains a mystery.
While no cases had been discovered in Canada, Dr. van Schaik said it's possible there may have been cases, but officials are still learning as information becomes available.
"I suspect we've seen some [cases], and we're just in that process of identifying them more specifically. There's very little known of the etiology."
She notes that it remains unclear what is causing the severe cases and that experts are exploring a possible COVID-19 infection relationship, "but we really don't know at the present time."
Symptoms could include vomiting and diarrhea and then, in the days and weeks to follow, jaundice, which Dr. van Schaik said consists of the yellowing of skin and eyes.
If symptoms occur, Dr. van Schaik suggested seeking medical attention.
MENTAL HEALTH AMONG KIDS
Meanwhile, the pediatrician said mental health among children has benefitted from being back to in-person learning and face-to-face socializing.
Following weeks of online learning and isolation from their peers, the mental health of children and youths became a serious topic among officials.
Dr. van Schaik said the return to the classroom "helps bring things back to normal as much as possible."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.