| Children
less susceptible to West Nile virus. Children
infected with West Nile virus are less
likely to develop a severe infection
than adults, the Hospital for Sick
Children in Toronto reports. But the
hospital warns parents must be diligent
in guarding kids against mosquitoes.
Children
infected by West Nile are more likely to
have a milder form of the illness and in
may not develop symptoms at all, says
the Hospital for Sick Children.
"Evidence
to date indicates that West Nile virus
infection in children is usually a mild
illness from which most children recover
without ill effect," says Dr. Lee
Ford-Jones, Infectious Diseases
Specialist at the hospital.
So
far, there have been no human cases of
West Nile virus reported in 2003.
Last
year in the U.S., children under the age
of nine made up only one per cent of the
2,354 cases of West Nile. In Ontario,
only six of 400 West Nile cases, or 1.5
per cent, were younger than 20.
"Far
and away, the more likely thing for a
child is to have no disease apparent at
all and certainly nothing that
severe," said Ford-Jones.
What
remains uncertain is why children seem
to be less susceptible to West Nile
which is transmitted to humans by
mosquitoes that have become infected
after feeding on the blood of birds that
carry the virus.
"The
speculation is that children's immune
systems are often somehow stronger or
more able perhaps to fight infection but
beyond that there really is no
ready-made answer," said Carole
Saindon, a spokesperson for Health
Canada.
Underlying
medical conditions may also account for
a more severe reaction in adults than in
children.
"It's
possible and quite likely that
pre-existing, longer term or chronic
health conditions can perhaps lead to
more serious health effects after
infection with West Nile Virus,"
said epidemiologist Peter Buck.
Although
children may be less likely to suffer
from West Nile, there is still some risk
of serious complications, including
paralysis, meningitis and encephalitis.
Too much remains unknown about the
virus.
"Because
the truth is, it might evolve … the
viruses tend to mutate and you never
know from one year to the next what the
impact would be, could be on different
populations," warned Saindon.
Officials
stress that anyone who is in good health
remains at a low risk for developing
West Nile.
"For
now you don't want to have people going
around and not wearing repellent for
example or providing repellent for their
children," Saindon said.
The
idea that children should become
infected with West Nile virus to
increases immunity to the virus later in
life gained support earlier this year.
"It's
a perfectly understandable sentiment
that children might be better off
getting the infection now than when
they're older, and by and large, that's
absolutely true, but personally I stop
short of saying that only because I know
that the very, very rare child will get
severely ill," Ford-Jones said.
To
avoid exposure to West Nile virus,
officials are warning people to avoid
being outside during the peak mosquito
hours at dusk and dawn; use repellents
and long-sleeved clothing; and eliminate
standing water on their property.
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