LITTLE ROCK, Ark — National infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said more young people are ending up with COVID-19 complications.
The Arkansas Department of Health said one thing’s for sure when it comes to COVID-19.
“We are seeing more younger people testing positive,” ADH Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr. Appathurai Bala said.
Dr. Bala said he continues to be concerned about asymptomatic young people spreading the virus to others.
“Currently somewhere close to 50% of our positives are among people under 45 years of age,” Bala said.
But, what about a new fear that more young people are also experiencing severe symptoms?
Dr. Bala said Arkansas hasn’t been tracking this specifically, but is working to get the number of young people who are hospitalized in the state.
“We haven’t collected the symptoms by age here, but we do see a wide variety of symptoms, you know, ranging from general fatigue or malaise to fever or non-specific symptoms like nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea,” Bala said.
He said it’s important for young people who are positive to take the virus seriously no matter what symptoms they have.
“Those who have COVID positive and advising them to follow up isolation or quarantine precautions, and it’s very important,” Bala said.
The range of symptoms the virus causes in people of all ages is something that continues to raise questions.