7.0 Conclusion and Key Clinical Takeaways

The emergence of the Nimbus (NB.1.8.1) and Stratus (XFG) Omicron sub-variants has sustained a low-level wave of COVID-19 infections, with a notable impact on paediatric populations. While the epidemiological data show an increase in emergency service consultations among young children, the overall clinical severity remains low, with most cases presenting as a mild upper respiratory tract infection. The key challenge for clinicians is the non-specific nature of the symptoms, which mandates a continued reliance on laboratory diagnostics over clinical presentation alone.

For medical professionals managing paediatric patients during this season, the following points are the most critical takeaways:

• The current wave of paediatric COVID-19, driven by sub-variants like Nimbus (NB.1.8.1), predominantly presents as a non-specific upper respiratory tract infection.
• The Nimbus variant can be distinguished by a characteristic “razor-like” sore throat and cervical lymphadenopathy, but symptomatic overlap with other viruses remains high.
• Clinical diagnosis alone is unreliable; confirmatory testing with NAAT/PCR is the standard of care for symptomatic children to ensure diagnostic certainty.
• While most paediatric cases are mild and managed with supportive care, vigilance and vaccination are crucial for children with underlying chronic conditions or immunodeficiencies.