CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte pediatrician noticed COVID-19 cases spike at her clinic during the omicron surge.
What You Need to Know
- Charlotte pediatrician notices COVID-19 cases spike during omicron surge
- Dr. Ana-Maria Temple, who focuses on family wellness, said her approach helped her patients recover quickly
- Temple doesn’t believe all children should be vaccinated but the CDC still recommends everyone over the age of 5 to get the shot
In early February, Dr. Ana-Maria Temple at Integrative Health Carolinas said so far this year she has seen more patients with COVID-19 than in 2020 and 2021.
“Clearly the omicron variant has been way more infectious, much more contagious, and it’s been spreading like wildfire in the community,” Temple said.
Temple, her husband and their children, who are all vaccinated, had mild COVID-19 cases over the holidays. The Temples said their healthy lifestyle and exercise frequency helped their immune systems fight off the virus.
At her clinic, Temple said the majority of her patients didn’t have complications in part to her approach.
“Because our patients are expected to eat their vegetables and they are expected to drink water and sleep, COVID has been very mild in our patients. It’s been maybe two to three days at the most of symptoms. Low-grade fever, a couple have had high-grade fever, really runny nose and maybe a cough, but the majority of people, as I said, within 24 to 48 hours are done,” Temple said.
However, she said the small number who had noticeable symptoms recovered with supplements.
At Temple’s clinic, appointments are an hour long. Patients learn about healthy eating, exercise and stress relief with the help of life coaches, nurses and dietitians.
Temple explains that with her personalized approached, she aims to strengthen gut health, the immune system, decrease medication use and frequency of doctor visits.
“We are focusing on nutrition and lifestyle modifications,” Temple said. “Our goal is to keep kids thriving with less medications.”
When it comes to the COVID-19 vaccine, some of Temple's patients are vaccinated and some aren't.
Temple said she doesn't believe all children need the shot.
“There are kids who are high-risk, they need to speak with their doctor in those cases. Those are isolated cases, but as a general rule for the population, it’s so upsetting to me we are mandating children to get this vaccine,” Temple said.
One of her concerns is reports of inflammation of the heart muscle, or myocarditis, after vaccination.
“The second dose increases the rates of myocarditis per the FDA, as compared to actually getting COVID,” Temple said.
The FDA and CDC said cases of myocarditis and inflammation of the outer lining of the heart, or pericarditis, are rare. As of Feb. 10, the Vaccine Adverse Event Reporting System verified 1,307 reports of myocarditis and pericarditis among people ages 30 years and younger.
Most cases have been reported in teenage boys and young adults. There have been more than 18 million vaccine doses administered in children at this point.
According to the CDC, most patients with myocarditis and pericarditis who received care responded well to medicine and rest and recovered quickly.
The CDC updated its guidance recently stating that extending the interval between the first and second dose of vaccines to eight weeks might reduce the risk of myocarditis.
Symptoms of myocarditis and pericarditis include chest pain, shortness of breath and feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering and pounding heart.
If you or a child have any of the symptoms, especially a week after vaccination, you’re advised to seek medical care.
The CDC and FDA still recommend everyone over the age of 5 to get their COVID-19 vaccine.