Young
Children ‘at highest risk of death from Ebola,’ Study Finds
Summary
During the Ebola epidemic that is happening now, more
than 24,000 people have been infected by the deadly virus, with the majority of
these cases taking place in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone. Throughout this
tragic epidemic, the number of children affected by the virus has risen. Of the
cases in Guinea, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, approximately 4,000 children under
age sixteen are infected with Ebola. However, there are no confirmed reasons
for this.
A new study conducted by researchers Imperial College
London in the United Kingdom and the World Health Organization concluded that
Ebola is more deadly for children under the age of five years old rather than
older children and adults. The findings from the study revealed that Ebola has
killed ninety percent of children under the age of one, and eighty percent of
children ranging one from one years old to four. Researchers found that
children aged under one have the shortest development period at 6.9 days, whereas
children aged between ten and fifteen has an incubation period of 9.8 days. These
children, aged 10-15, are most likely to survive the disease, with fifty-two
percent of cases in this age group resulting in death.
The symptoms in children infected with Ebola differ
than those in adults. Children are more likely to experience a fever, but are
less likely to have trouble breathing, hiccups, difficulty in swallowing, and
pain in the muscles, joints, chest, or stomach. The symptoms that children
develop progress much faster, putting them at a higher risk of dying from the
disease.
Analysis
Before reading this article, I assumed adults were the
most at risk for death because of this disease. I did not take into
consideration that children’s immune systems are not fully developed and as
strong as adults. Also, I did not realize that children are more compromised by
the virus because their caregivers may have contracted the virus. With children
having a greater risk of death from Ebola, it is understandable that they need
and deserve the highest quality medical care. The downfall of this is that not
everyone can afford medical care, which makes it difficult for some symptoms to
be prevented. I understand that no one can control the outbreak of this virus,
but caregivers need to take better precaution.
Shane’ Lennon
3/27/15
7:33pm
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