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
What weather experts say to expect this summer in Canada
Get ready to feel the heat, Canada. Weather experts are predicting more sunshine and warmer temperatures for the summer.
New COVID-19 subvariants become the dominant strains in Canada
More than four years after COVID-19 effectively shut down the world, two new variants of COVID-19 have become the dominant strains of the novel coronavirus in Canada.
Israel sends tanks into Rafah on raids amid Gaza-wide offensive
Israeli tanks mounted raids across Rafah in defiance of the World Court for a second day on Wednesday, after Washington said the assault did not amount to a major ground operation in the southern Gazan city that U.S. officials have warned Israel to avoid.
Tessa Virtue reveals she's expecting her first child. Here's what Canadians had to say
Canadian figure-skating icon Tessa Virtue is expecting her first child, she revealed via social media Tuesday.
Five more Ontario school boards join lawsuit against social media platforms
Five additional Ontario school boards and two independent private schools have joined a lawsuit against the owners of multiple social media platforms, including Snapchat, TikTok, and Facebook.
P.E.I. kiteboarder 'lucky to be alive' after shark attack in Turks and Caicos
A professional kiteboarder from P.E.I. says he has been seriously injured in a shark attack that occurred while he was snorkelling in the Turks and Caicos Islands last week.
'Unruly passenger' forces WestJet flight to make emergency landing in B.C.
A WestJet flight heading to Calgary had to make an emergency landing in northern B.C. Monday due to an incident involving an 'unruly passenger,' Mounties say.
In bizarre provocation, North Korea flies trash, manure balloons over the South
North Korea flew hundreds of balloons carrying trash and manure toward South Korea in one of its most bizarre provocations against its rival in years, prompting the South’s military to mobilize chemical and explosive response teams to recover objects and debris in different parts of the country.
Introducing peanut butter during infancy can help protect against a peanut allergy later on, new study finds
New evidence suggests that feeding children smooth peanut butter during infancy and early childhood can help reduce their risk of developing a peanut allergy even years later.