HJBR Nov/Dec 2021

testing supplies by the time this started so that we could rule out COVID before send- ing children back to school and child care. Did you see many cases of MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children)? I personally saw one of my patients with MIS-C. It is pretty rare. She was just a few months old and presented with high fever and very abnormal blood work. She ended up in the ICU with heart and kidney inflam- mation but recovered within two to three weeks. What are your concerns about ongoing health issues in the children who recovered? While “long-COVID” is a big problem in adult patients, most children recover com- pletely. I do worry about heart inflamma- tion, whichmay be insidious and undetected until an athlete returns to full play. For that reason, our cardiologists recommend close follow up after COVID and a cardiac evalu- ation for any severely affected kids before allowing them to resume sports. What is your opinion on schools reopening for in-classroom teaching? With masking, hygiene and some social distancing (even when not perfect), schools do remarkably well. In fact, the spreader events for kids seem to be more related to them being out of school — family par- ties, sleepovers and summer camps. While I have patients who liked home-schooling and hybrid learning, I have spoken with so many families whose children have strug- gled with grades, who are needing to repeat the year, who have been unhappy at home without friends, who miss school activities, who have gained weight due to the lack of PE and sports. Speech therapy, physical therapy, tutoring and counseling services often disappeared. Clearly, kids need to be in school. This is one of the biggest reasons I feel all adults should be getting vaccinated. We owe it to our kids to get this pandemic under control so that children can be edu- cated and get the social stimulation they need. Do you think the worst is over? And, what do you see on the horizon for this virus? Who knows! The pandemic has been humbling, and I hesitate to make predic- tions. My hope is that, after two years, we have seen the worst (the 1918 flu pandemic played itself out after a couple of years). My fear is that another variant will emerge that is even more contagious and more severe in young people. If the hospitals continue to be overwhelmed, this will be devastating and could topple the economy, which leads to more repercussions. Unlike a hundred years ago, before scientific advances were made, we do have some power to prevent this sce- nario. But we need leadership, citizenship and education. Can you share a story that moved you or your staff? I have asked most parents and grandpar- ents I meet with, “Will you be getting the vaccine?”and as recommendations evolved, I began asking my older teenagers. I have been met with all sorts of responses. Some wanted a vaccine so they could return to sports without having to worry so much about quarantines. Although certainly not alone in this sentiment, one young man in particular touched me with his desire to get the vaccine in order to help others. He didn’t have a grandparent or anyone in mind; he genuinely felt that it was his duty and the right thing to do. Someone that age stepping up, in light of what the “greatest generation” has suffered these past two years, touched my heart and reminded me that these kids coming of age during this worldwide cri- sis may be uniquely resilient, civic and strong. n “There were many more cases of among children during the Delta surge; plus, it may have affected children more severely. There were more deaths in children and young adults, and it became clear that nobody is spared fromthis unpredictable virus.” Q&A HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF BATON ROUGE I  NOV / DEC 2021 27