TIPS TO PROTECT KIDS FROM COVID 19

FACTS & FIGURES: CORONAVIRUS OUTBREAK
On Dec. 31, 2019, the first case of a mysterious, pneumonia-like virus was first identified in Wuhan, China. On January 21, 2020, the first case of the novel coronavirus was confirmed in the United States. Nine days later, on January 30, the World Health Organization had declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern. The novel coronavirus was a new strain of coronaviruses that had not been previously identified in humans. On February 11, the official name of the virus was announced as COVID-19 with 'CO' standing for 'corona,' 'VI' for 'virus,' 'D' for disease and ‘19’ for the year it started.
By March 11, COVID-19 was declared a pandemic. It can infect all age groups but mortality of COVID-19 is high in the elderly, age group more than 65 years of and also young children. A good thing in pediatrics is that case fatality (severity of disease) is less as compared to adults. Most of the cases of COVID-19 in children are mild disease like other viral infections. But there is a high probability, it can be fatal in children with underlying chronic diseases like heart disease, liver diseases, kidney diseases, malnutrition and children with immune deficiency. There is no definite treatment of COVID-19 and vaccination against this deadly virus to date. At present, we can do some measures to reduce or prevent the risk of infection of this deadly virus.

WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A PANDEMIC AND AN EPIDEMIC?
An epidemic is an unexpected regional outbreak of specific illness. A pandemic is an epidemic that has spread worldwide.


HOW CAN I TALK TO MY KIDS ABOUT THE CORONAVIRUS?

It’s important to be calm, honest and informed when speaking to children about news related to the coronavirus. You can start by asking your child what they already know about the coronavirus. Many times, children can take their cues from adults, so it’s important to answer their questions and address any misinformation simply and calmly. It also helps to validate their feelings, while reminding them what’s in their power—washing hands thoroughly and often, coughing and sneezing into their elbow, getting plenty of sleep, etc. This is as important a time as ever to model strong behaviour when it comes to practicing good hygiene.


WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF THE NEW CORONAVIRUS?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, dry cough, and shortness of breath. These symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, call your health provider.


WHAT CAN I DO TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS?

As with all viruses, practicing good hygiene is the best way to prevent illness: wash your hands often, with soap and for at least 20 seconds. Avoid close contact, when possible, with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing. To protect others, cough and sneeze in your elbow; stay home when you’re not feeling well to help your body recover and avoid spreading germs to others.
PROTECTING YOURSELF AND OTHERS FROM THE SPREAD COVID-19
You can reduce your chances of being infected or spreading COVID-19 by taking some simple precautions: Follow advice provided by your local public health agency.
·         To prevent the spread of COVID-19:
  1. ·         Clean your hands often. Use soap and water, or an alcohol-based        hand rub.
  2. ·         Maintain a safe distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
  3. ·         Don’t touch your eyes, nose or mouth.
  4. ·         Cover your nose and mouth with your bent elbow or a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
  5. ·         Stay home if you feel unwell.
  6. ·  If you have a fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention. Call in advance.
  7. ·         Follow the directions of your local health authority.
  8. ·      Avoiding unneeded visits to medical facilities allows healthcare systems to operate more effectively, therefore protecting you and others.

ADVICE ON THE SAFE USE OF ALCOHOL-BASED HAND SANITIZERS
To protect yourself and others against COVID-19, clean your hands frequently and thoroughly. Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or wash your hands with soap and water. If you use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, make sure you use and store it carefully.
    1. Keep alcohol-based hand sanitizers out of children’s reach. Teach them how to apply the sanitizer and monitor its use.
    2. Apply a coin-sized amount on your hands. There is no need to use a large amount of the product.
    3. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose immediately after using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer, as it can cause irritation.
    4. Hand sanitizers recommended to protect against COVID-19 are alcohol-based and therefore can be flammable. Do not use before handling fire or cooking.
    5. Under no circumstance, drink or let children swallow an alcohol-based hand sanitizer. It can be poisonous. 
    6. Remember that washing your hands with soap and water is also effective against COVID-19.

WHAT TO DO IF MY CHILD SHOWS FLU-LIKE SYMPTOMS?

Don’t forget that it is flu season in the northern hemisphere, the symptoms of which are similar to the coronavirus disease. So, seek medical attention in case you face similar symptoms like cough and fever, but do not mix the two.  Keep following good hand hygiene practices like washing hands regularly at frequent intervals and keep a track of vaccinations for your child so that he/she does not develop any other disease.Seek care early if your child is showing flu-like symptoms. Avoid visiting public places so that others don’t catch the disease. 

 WHEN SHOULD I CALL THE DOCTOR?

If the person you're caring for seems to be getting sicker, call your doctor right away. Tell the doctor about their symptoms and whether they've been tested for coronavirus (COVID-19). As responsible parents, you are advised to stay calm and follow the guidelines mentioned above. If you are worried about the symptoms, get in touch with your paediatrician as soon as possible. Do not encourage rumours and follow good personal hygiene.  
If they need to go to the doctor:
  1. ·         The person should wear a cloth face covering, if available.
  2. ·         Keep tissues handy in case they need to cough or sneeze.
  3. ·        Go to the emergency room or call 911 if the person has trouble         breathing, is confused, or is very drowsy.

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW?

If you're caring for someone with coronavirus or who has coronavirus symptoms, keep taking these precautions until your doctor say it's safe to stop doing so. It can get pretty lonely and boring for kids who are sick and need to stay home. While they're separated from family, classmates, and friends, kids who feel well enough may want to:
  1. ·         Talk on the phone or do a video call with family and friends.
  2. ·         Text or use other messaging apps to talk with family and friends.
  3. ·         Play online games that let them play with other kids from home.
  4. ·         Do puzzles . Keep these clean and keep separate from other toys in the house.
  5. ·     Clean items used by the sick person (such as phones and computers) before other family members use them. 
You should always call your child’s pediatrician if you have any concerns or questions about their health.

DR NITIN GUPTA
Child Care Clinic and Vaccination Centre

BEST PEDIATRICIAN IN GAUR CITY, 

Location: Greater Noida W Rd, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh 201009, India

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

KAWASAKI DISEASE: CLINICAL GUIDELINES

Image
Kawasaki disease causes swelling (inflammation) in the walls of medium-sized arteries throughout the body. It primarily affects children. The inflammation tends to affect the coronary arteries, which supply blood to the heart muscle.   Kawasaki disease is sometimes called mucocutaneous lymph node syndrome because it also affects glands that swell during an infection (lymph nodes), skin, and the mucous membranes inside the mouth, nose and throat. Signs of Kawasaki disease, such as a high fever and peeling skin, can be frightening. The good news is that Kawasaki disease is usually treatable, and most children recover from Kawasaki disease without serious problems. SYMPTOMS Kawasaki disease signs and symptoms usually appear in three phases. 1st phase Signs and symptoms of the first phase may include: ·         A fever that is often is higher than 102.2 F (39 C) and lasts more than three days ·       Extremely red ...
Read more

TIPS TO FEND OFF DENGUE FEVER IN KIDS

Image
What Is Dengue Fever? Dengue (pronounced: DEN-gee) fever is an infectious disease. It can cause high fevers, headaches, rashes, and pain throughout the body. Although dengue fever can be very painful, it's not usually fatal. Dengue fever is common in tropical and subtropical climates. It's a big problem in some countries in Latin America and Southeast Asia. It is transmitted to humans by the Aedes Aegypti mosquito, which unlike the malaria causing mosquito Anopheles feeds only during the day. How Do People Get Dengue Fever? When a mosquito bites a person who has dengue fever, the mosquito becomes infected with the virus that causes the disease. It can then spread the virus to other people by biting them.  Dengue fever is not contagious, so it can't spread directly from person to person. Since different viruses can cause dengue fever, someone can get the disease more than once. W hat Are the Signs & Symptoms of Dengue Fever? Dengue fever used to be called ...
Read more