First Teenage COVID-19 Death Reported 國內首見青少年染疫死亡 引發各界關注

Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as post-COVID conditions or long COVID. Doctors are now reminding the public to be alert for vasculitis in the two to three weeks after recovering from COVID regardless of the severity of the case.

Taiwan has reported its first death of a teenager from COVID-19. The case involved a 15-year-old with no known chronic health issues. He had received one vaccine dose. After recovering, he returned to school, but fell unconscious, and died. An autopsy listed the cause of death as cardiac shock resulting from viral myocarditis and acute pulmonary edema, and COVID-19. Doctors warn the public to watch out for long COVID symptoms such as brain fog and forgetfulness after recovering. In the two to three weeks after recovering, they are at a higher risk for vasculitis, including strokes and cardiovascular disease.

Lin Wei-wen, Cardiologist, Taiwan Adventist Hospital: “In clinical practice, young people had a higher incidence of viral myocarditis. It could be inflammation resulting from the virus infecting the cells in the heart muscles, or a follow-up immune response that triggers an extensive inflammation of the heart muscles. It could also be an immune response caused by the so-called cytokine storm. ”

Doctors say international studies show people recovering from COVID-19 have a 72 percent higher risk of developing coronary artery disease and a 52 percent higher risk of suffering a stroke, regardless of the severity of their case. Even those with no history of cardiovascular disease may suffer cardiovascular pathological changes due to vasculitis. Anyone with chest pain, labored breathing, or gasping should seek immediate medical treatment. Meanwhile, the number of new daily cases has decreased for five straight days. Although the situation is worsening somewhat in the south, doctors believe that is irrelevant because all of Taiwan is connected. Demand for vaccines has skyrocketed in the central and southern regions, so there shouldn't be a death cross as cases fall in the north and rise in the south.

Hwang Kao-pin, Central Region Commander, Medical Network: “The plateau is already decreasing now, so in theory, we're moving away from this plateau period, and there should be fewer cases. These ups and downs are completely normal. With regards to this tail, we predict that it could persist until the end of the month.”

Doctors say that many people who work in the north return to the central and southern regions during weekends. If there is to be a death cross, the number of cases in the central and southern regions will have to surge to at least 20,000 to 30,000. Right now, it's only 11,000, and it has already peaked.

台安醫院心臟內科醫師林謂文表示：「臨床上常常看到都是比較偏重年輕人會比較常見病毒性心肌炎，基本上去推測，有可能是病毒感染到我們心臟肌肉的細胞引起的發炎，或是引起後續的一些免疫反應，而引起所謂的心臟肌肉廣泛性的發炎，也有可能是所謂的免疫風暴，造成的一個免疫的反應。」

醫師表示，根據國外最新研究顯示，無論染疫後是輕症或重症患者，染疫後罹患冠狀動脈疾病的風險增加72%、中風的可能性則是增加52%，就算過去沒有心血管疾病，確診的血管發炎就可能會引起心血管病變，一旦有胸悶、呼吸急促或喘等情形就要盡速就醫。而本土疫情已連續5天下降，雖然南部疫情有些許上升的情況，但有醫師認為，全台是一日生活圈，該感染的都感染，且中南部疫苗施打踴躍，北降南升的疫情不會死亡交叉。

衛福部中區防疫指揮官黃高彬指出：「現在高原已經開始在下降了，所以我們理論上來講應該是要離開這個高原期了，（確診數）會有一點輕微的，這種起伏是很正常的，這個一個尾巴來講，我們預測是可能會拖到這個月底左右。」

醫師認為，很多在北部工作的民眾常在週末回到中南部，如果會死亡交叉，中南部確診數應該會衝到2萬、3萬例以上，但目前也只有到1萬1000多例，應該是高峰，若排除假日效應，週二沒有往上衝，疫情應該就是下來了。