Second child under-12 COVID death in Singapore: 4-year-old girl with no past medical history

The Ministry of Health said a 4-year-old girl died on Sunday (Jul 17) of pneumonia after testing positive for Covid-19. This is the second Covid 19 death Singapore has recorded of a child under the age of 12.

Earlier, an 18-month-old boy who had the infection died after suffering a high fever and recurrent seizures on June 27.

About the second child Covid 19 death Singapore recorded, MOH told the media on Tuesday (July 19) that the girl had been previously well and had no medical history.

“She developed symptoms of an upper respiratory tract infection and fever on July 15, and tested positive for Covid-19 via an antigen rapid test on Sunday at a general practitioner clinic,” MOH said.

“She was prescribed medications for her symptoms but remained unwell, and collapsed later that night.”

The state coroner later reported the cause of death as Covid-19 pneumonia, MOH added.

As for the boy who died of Covid in June, the cause of death was encephalitis (inflammation of the brain) due to Covid-19, the ministry said at the time.

He was conveyed to KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital (KKH) Children’s Emergency Department on June 21 due to a high fever, recurrent seizures and a subsequent drop in consciousness.

The child was admitted to the intensive care unit in critical condition the following day. He was diagnosed with severe meningoencephalitis, a severe neurological condition resembling both meningitis and encephalitis.

The polymerase chain reaction test for the boy had been positive for Covid-19 as well as two other viruses – Rhinovirus/Enterovirus and Respiratory Syncytial Virus said MOH.

Like the 4-year-old girl, the boy had had no previous medical history and had been well when he was infected.

MOH said, “Children are generally more resilient to Covid-19 infections than adults and the elderly. 

Notwithstanding, Covid-19 infections can result in severe disease amongst children.”

The Ministry also said that MOH, Health Sciences Authority and the Expert Committee on Covid-19 Vaccination are currently studying how safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines are for children under five years old. /TISG

18-month-old boy in Singapore dies after suffering high fever and recurrent seizures from COVID-19