Should we take the routine childhood vaccinations?

Yes definitely you should take routine childhood vaccinations as per the schedule, as these diseases can resurge and some are more deadlier than Covid!! Please contact your pediatrician/ hospital at the earliest and also follow covid appropriate behaviour when you go out. All hospitals have taken the necessary precautions to ensure a safe and hassle-free visit.

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How Does Coronavirus (COVID-19) Spread?

People can catch coronavirus from others who are infected, even if they don’t have any symptoms. This happens when an infected person sneezes or coughs, sending tiny droplets into the air. These can land in the nose or mouth of someone nearby.

Some even smaller droplets can linger in the air for minutes to hours. These are called aerosols. People send aerosols into the air when they talk or breathe. Aerosols can travel on air currents away from where they started. So coronavirus sometimes can spread by aerosols. This is more likely to happen when an infected person spends a long time indoors, in a space with poor ventilation.

People also might get infected if they touch an infected droplet on a surface and then touch their own nose, mouth, or eyes.

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

COVID-19 can cause a range of symptoms, including:

• fever
• cough
• trouble breathing
• symptoms of a cold such as a sore throat, congestion, or a runny nose
• chills
• muscle pain
• headache
• a loss of taste or smell
• nausea or vomiting
• diarrhea
• tiredness

The virus can be more serious in some people. And some people have no symptoms at all.

Some kids are having symptoms caused by inflammation throughout the body, sometimes several weeks after they were infected with the virus. This is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Doctors are trying to find out how these symptoms are related to coronavirus infection.

Symptoms seen in kids who have MISC-C include:

• fever
• belly pain
• vomiting or diarrhea
• neck pain
• a rash
• red eyes
• feeling very tired
• red, cracked lips
• swollen hands or feet
• swollen glands (lymph nodes)

Kids who are very sick with MIS-C may have trouble breathing, pain or pressure in the chest, bluish lips or face, confusion, or trouble staying awake.

Most kids with MIS-C get better after they get special care in the hospital, sometimes in the ICU (intensive care unit).

What are the Red Flag signs in COVID positive children?

A parent should watch for these red flag signs, if any, should visit a pediatrician/hospital at earliest

• Persistent high grade fever >4 days
• Lethargy/poor feeding in an infant
•  Rapid breathing(age based)
•  Saturation less than 95%
•  Cold /blue extremities

How to monitor a covid positive child at home?

All parents must monitor these vital signs every 4-6 hrs once during home isolation/quarantine. They are – heart rate, respiratory rate , oxygen saturation,temperature , urine output. Maitain a daily chart to communicate with your treating doctor.

Use a pulsoximeter (avoid during crying/sleeping ) for heart rate and saturation. Measure for 30-60 secs.Take best of 3 readings.

Can Someone Who’s Infected Spread Coronavirus (COVID-19) if They Don’t Have Symptoms?

The virus spreads most easily when an infected person has symptoms. But it also can spread before symptoms start. It can take 2–14 days after someone is exposed to the virus for symptoms to show up.

The closer you are to someone who is infected with coronavirus, and the longer you’re together, the higher your risk of also getting infected.

Who Is at Risk for Severe Coronavirus (COVID-19) Disease?

Experts are still learning about COVID-19. There are far fewer cases of the virus reported in children. Usually, the virus causes a milder illness in kids, though some children have become pretty sick.

Most of the people who have died from coronavirus were older adults or people with other health problems, such as heart disease, lung disease, or diabetes.

Who Should Wear a Mask?

Wearing a mask is one of the most effective ways to prevent the spread of coronavirus. All adults and kids older than 2 years should wear a mask when out in public and around others. At home, anyone who is sick should wear a mask when around other household members to prevent spreading the virus.

Children under 2 years old and people who have trouble breathing should not wear a mask.

How Do Masks Help?

COVID-19 can spread when people breathe, talk, cough, or sneeze. Wearing a mask keeps the virus from reaching others. It also can stop the virus from reaching you. If everyone wears a mask when they’re out in public, fewer people will get sick.

Who Shouldn’t Wear a Mask?

Most of us can and should wear masks when in public. But some people cannot, including:

children younger than 2 years old

someone who is sick and has trouble breathing

anyone who can’t take a mask off without help

people with some types of cognitive, developmental, or behavioral conditions

What Can Help Kids When They Wear Masks?

Most kids are now used to seeing people in masks. Still, some toddlers and young children may feel uneasy about it. Masks hide part of a person’s face, so kids can’t see the friendly smile or familiar look that usually puts them at ease. When kids can’t see the person’s whole face, it’s harder to feel safe. It’s natural to feel scared.

Parents can help by explaining why they might need to wear a mask at school, childcare, and other public places. Even very young kids can learn that something that seemed scary at first is not scary after all.

To help kids wear masks when you go out:

• Teach kids how to put masks on and take them off. Remind them that masks should always cover the nose and mouth.
• Make it fun and personal. You can find fun, colorful masks in many stores. Looks for ones with superhero characters, movie favorites, silly faces, or animal prints. Kids might opt for a plain mask that they can decorate with markers, stickers, beads, or sequins. A personal touch can help make masks a more normal part of their routine.

What Should I Do if My Child Has Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

DO NOT PANIC!!!
Call your doctor if your child has a fever, cough, sore throat, belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, dizziness, or just doesn’t feel well. If your child has been near someone with coronavirus or lived in or traveled to an area where lots of people have coronavirus, tell the doctor.

The doctor can decide whether your child:

• should get tested for the infection
• can be treated at home
• should come in for a visit OR
• can have a video or telehealth visit

Can children be isolated with a parent if the child is positive and parents are negative?
There may be a lot of anxiety if the child is left isolated. Keep them with the parent — use appropriate PPE. Attendants should not come in contact with other people and get tested if they develop symptoms.

How to take care of a child if parents have tested positive?
Isolation is difficult in nuclear families; better if the younger child is left with the mother. Parents need to wear masks and take precautions. If it’s an older child, the parent who has tested negative can take care of the child. Sending them to grandparents’ can be risky, if asymptomatic. Test the child before doing that.

Can children be super spreaders?
Yes, they can give infection to others, including other family members and other kids.

If one family is positive, should everyone including asymptomatic children be screened?
Yes, there are two reasons to do a test: < 0.1 per cent will develop severe disease. But admission may be difficult in this situation without test reports; and to reduce transmission, for asymptomatic children, get tests done 4-5 days after the adult is positive.

How Are People Tested for Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

There are two types of tests for COVID-19:

• One type of test can tell if someone is currently infected with coronavirus. To do this test, health care providers use a swab (like a longer Q-Tip) to take a sample from the nose or throat.
• A blood test that checks for antibodies can tell if someone was infected with coronavirus at least 2–3 weeks before the test. It can’t tell if they’re infected at the time of the test, which is why it isn’t used to diagnose COVID-19.

How Can We Protect Ourselves From Coronavirus (COVID-19)?

To protect yourself and your family:

• Adults and kids over 2 years old should wear a mask any time they are out in public and around other people to help slow the spread of the virus. Avoid large crowds and busy places.
• Avoid public indoor spaces that do not provide fresh air from outdoors. Restaurants and bars are particularly risky because people must take off their masks to eat and drink. It is safest to eat outdoors if possible or to get takeout restaurant food to eat at home.
• Stay at least 6 feet from people you don’t live with. COVID-19 can spread before a person has symptoms and even when someone has no symptoms.
• Wash your hands well and often. Wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer with at least 60% alcohol. Teach your kids to do the same.
• Try not to touch your eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Use a household cleaner or wipe to clean and disinfect surfaces and things that people touch a lot (like doorknobs, cellphones, and counters).
• Keep informed about the latest recommendations for COVID-19 testing in case someone in your family gets sick or is exposed to an infected person. Follow recommendations for quarantine and isolation to stop the virus from spreading.
• Avoid non-essential travel. If you must travel, follow state and local recommendations or requirements for testing and quarantining before and after travel.
• Make sure your children get all their vaccinations. Protect them against illnesses like measles and the flu. Kids who have another infection may have a harder time getting better if they do get COVID-19.

How Is Coronavirus (COVID-19) Treated?

There is no specific medicine for COVID-19. Most people who have it get better at home with plenty of liquids, rest, and comfort. Some people get very ill and need treatment in the hospital.

If kids get Coronavirus (COVID-19) infection and recover can they get it again?

We still have many questions about how the immune system reacts to the new coronavirus. While it isn’t common, findings from some recent studies suggest that it is possible to be infected a second time. Until we learn more, parents and caregivers should continue taking steps to prevent COVID-19, even if your child has had a confirmed case of in the past and even if they have a positive antibody test.

Mother is RT PCR +ve, can she breastfeed the newborn?
Yes, benefits of breastfeeding outweigh the risks. Mother can breastfeed taking adequate precautions like using a mask and sanitiser.