2. COVID times
By now, we know Coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) is a respiratory illness that can
spread from person to person. While the
situation is swiftly evolving, and experts are
learning more daily, concerns about the
younger population may still be weighing on
parents’ minds.
The disease seems to be more severe in older
adults and those with underlying health
problems and there are fewer hospitalizations
in children compared with adults.Still, parents
want to be informed and take precautions
where possible. Below are answers to
questions parents might have about COVID-19
and how it affects children.
APOLLO
HOSPITALS
MUMBAI
3. What
preventative
measures should
parents practice
with their kids?
Kids like to touch their face. Your nose,
mouth, and eyes are all portals of entry for
viruses into your body.” Frequent hand
washing, especially with toddlers and kids
who are in daycare, is important.
Keep kids away from people who are sick,
especially if they have respiratory symptoms.
For COVID-19, one of the most important
things for containment is to isolate people
who have the virus. And this is especially true
for keeping sick kids away from elderly and
people with underlying medical conditions. If
you have a child with a respiratory illness who
has frequent contact with elderly
grandparents or caregivers, try to separate
them until the child is feeling better — kids
can be reservoirs for respiratory illness. This
is important as older people and those with
underlying diseases are at risk for more
severe illness.
APOLLO
HOSPITALS
MUMBAI
4. Are there
additional
protective
measures for
children with
chronic
pulmonary or
respiratory
illness, like
cystic fibrosis?
Based on the CDC’s guidance for people who
are at higher risk, it's recommended that
people with chronic respiratory illness and
those who are immunocompromised not
attend any large gathering and stay home as
much as possible.
When in public, the six feet rule of social
distancing is another way to avoid getting sick.
If your child has an underlying health problem
and has symptoms worrisome for COVID-19,
please call your provider for additional
recommendations.
For reasons that nobody fully understands,
COVID-19 does not appear to cause severe
disease in previously healthy children
APOLLO
HOSPITALS
MUMBAI
5. When should a
parent call the
doctor?
The virus appears to be mild in children, and
there are no available therapies today. Care
for the infection is directed toward the
symptoms: Tylenol, ibuprofen, and hydration
with fluids, like chicken soup.
”Providers urge families to avoid the
emergency room unless their child genuinely
requires emergency care. Testing is still not
widely available for COVID-19; coming to the
hospital just to get tested is not
recommended. This will also help keep
emergency services available for the children
who really need them and protect children
who are most at-risk. Testing availability may
increase and YNHH.org has the most updated
information on testing availability.
Start with your regular pediatrician or PCP
and only bring your child to the emergency
room if they require emergency care.
APOLLO
HOSPITALS
MUMBAI