2 children seriously ill with Covid-19 in Hong Kong amid rising infection trend
Authorities say 17-month-old girl had not received vaccine, while 13-year-old girl had been inoculated but suffered from underlying health conditions
Two children have fallen seriously ill with Covid-19 in Hong Kong, with one in a critical condition, prompting renewed calls for high-risk groups to get inoculated amid a rising trend of infections.
According to the Centre for Health Protection, a 17-month-old girl, previously in good health but unvaccinated, developed a fever and cough on Friday.
She sought medical help at Queen Mary Hospital in Pok Fu Lam on Sunday before being admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.
Her respiratory specimen tested positive for the virus that caused Covid-19, as well as adenovirus and rhinovirus, the centre said.
Doctors diagnosed her with Covid-19, adenovirus and rhinovirus co-infection, complicated by croup. She remained in a critical condition.
An investigation by the centre showed she had not received a Covid-19 vaccine and had no travel history during the incubation period.
The second case involved a 13-year-old girl with underlying health conditions. She developed shortness of breath on Friday and sought care at the same hospital on the same day. She was also admitted to the paediatric intensive care unit.