How to Take Care of Babies During the Flu Outbreak

March 12, 2022 Post a Comment

COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on Feb 17, 2022

It is important for parents and kids to accept every possible safety precaution and sympathise all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, M.D., M.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'south Center and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks nigh COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids safe, the risk infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon but serious condition that may be related to exposure to the virus.

What should parents know most coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, continue to spread, particularly in areas with low rates of community COVID-nineteen vaccination and amid populations such every bit children under 5 who cannot nonetheless exist vaccinated.

For children too young to exist vaccinated (and adults who accept not received coronavirus vaccines) it is of import to follow proven COVID-19 precautions such every bit mask wearing when in public, indoor places to reduce the chance of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, just take chances tin exist reduced past masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathize that children infected with the coronavirus can develop complications requiring hospitalization, and can transmit the virus to others.

In rare cases, children infected with the coronavirus tin develop a serious lung infection and become very sick with COVID-19, and deaths accept occurred. That's why information technology is important to utilize precautions and prevent infection in children as well equally adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-xix?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the disease to her baby. Infants can besides become infected shortly after being built-in. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, only serious cases have occurred. Significant women should take extra precautions, including talking to your doc about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

In that location is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is nowadays in chest milk but because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very important to follow safety guidelines. Acquire more nigh COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Generally, COVID-19 symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may non have any signs of being sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

Cough
Fever or chills
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Muscle or body aches
Sore throat
New loss of sense of taste or odour
Diarrhea
Headache
New fatigue
Nausea or airsickness
Congestion or runny nose

Some symptoms of COVID-xix and the influenza are shared and it may be difficult to determine which of either might exist present.

"People with influenza-similar symptoms should be conscientious about exposing other people and should become tested to encounter if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also exist important, as available medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and cough are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can as well experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

All the same, serious illness in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay alert if their child is diagnosed with, or shows signs of, the affliction.

Children with COVID-19: When to Call 911

Parents or guardians should immediately seek urgent or emergency medical care if they notice these warning signs in a child:

Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
Inability to proceed downward any liquids
New confusion or inability to awaken
Bluish lips

illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Hand-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Paw-washing — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might be) sick with COVID-19 — is primal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash hands and arrive fun for the whole family.

Take a chance Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Data from the CDC report indicate that some children may be at a college risk for a serious example of COVID-xix, needing medical care in a hospital:

Those under historic period ii
Black and Latino children, who tin be afflicted by health disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to severe COVID-19 complications
Children who were built-in prematurely
Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you remember your child is ill with COVID-nineteen, trust your instinct, peculiarly if the child has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family unit care practitioner or urgent care clinic if you don't accept a doctor, and follow their instructions advisedly regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Doctors take noted that some children may experience a condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Phone call your family medico or pediatrician right away if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than 24 hours and at to the lowest degree one of these symptoms:

Unusual weakness or fatigue
A red rash
Abdominal (belly) hurting
Airsickness and diarrhea
Red, cracked lips
Red optics
Bloated hands or feet

Learn more about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How can immunocompromised kids get the intendance they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children'southward Center, says, "Your child's care team is your get-to resource. Information technology's OK to inquire your child's doctor nigh what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your child while preventing COVID-19 and if getting your kid vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some office visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your kid's physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their treatment is important to keep them good for you, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might be aware of the fact that their bodies could accept a harder fourth dimension fighting the virus if they encounter information technology.

Parents tin can reassure them that hospitals are aware of patients' vulnerabilities, and are prepared and using precautions."

Asthma: Children with asthma may have more astringent symptoms from COVID-19 or whatsoever other respiratory disease, including the flu. In that location are no indications that nigh children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, merely observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child'southward doc to discuss next steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation as needed. Keep your child's medications refilled and take actress care to avert things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is fundamental. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to exist more susceptible to COVID-nineteen. Just poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune arrangement, and so parents and doctors should sentry these children carefully for signs and symptoms that may require evaluation.

How to Protect Your Kids from the Coronavirus and COVID-xix

Take your kid vaccinated for COVID

Experts, including those at Johns Hopkins, believe that at that place are many benefits to vaccinating children for COVID-19. The CDC recommends vaccines for children 5 and older.

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at loftier hazard of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces hazard of infection, just most chiefly, significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization and expiry from this and other variants."

Children age 12 or older who take received both required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at to the lowest degree five months ago can receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

Children historic period 5 and older who have certain medical conditions associated with immunosuppression can receive an additional dose 28 days after their second dose.

Learn more than about the COVID-19 vaccine and what parents need to know.

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Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-19

While a vaccine may be authorized for children under 5 in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the all-time way to keep them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might exist) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Hither are iii of the best ways to protect your kids from infection.

Maintain physical distancing. The more people your kids come in contact with, and the longer the duration of that contact, the higher the take chances of infection with the coronavirus.

Children should stay at least 6 feet from others outside of their household.
Bank check your kids' twenty-four hour period intendance and schools (if they are open up) to ensure physical distancing measures are in place.
Limit in-person play with other children, and be sure the children wear masks properly.
Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such equally those with wellness weather condition.

Clothing a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is i reason why the Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades K-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Information continue to support the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before returning to school so kids are comfy wearing them in form.

Paw hygiene. Kids should wash their hands afterwards using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their olfactory organ, before eating (even snacks) and immediately later on coming within from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with soap and warm h2o, for at least 20 seconds. "They can aid keep track of time past singing the ABCs, which takes about xx seconds to cease," he says. If soap and water are not bachelor, Milstone says the next best option is hand sanitizer containing at least threescore% booze.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your kid is refusing to wash their hands or condign very upset when asked to do so, it might help to give them a small advantage, such as a sticker, to celebrate each time they wash their easily. Compliment them for doing a really proficient job while washing their hands." It also helps when parents set an case by washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know well-nigh Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus risk together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to take less serious health consequences for children than for adults, information technology is important to avoid infection among children. Here'southward how parents and guardians can assistance:

Become all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations every bit soon as they are eligible, and the same goes for flu shots and other vaccinations.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-xix and be on the picket for serious disease in kids.

Cough and sneeze with care. "Encourage everyone in the family to cough and sneeze into their elbow, instead of their easily, and to wash their hands after each fourth dimension this occurs," Milstone says. "Throw away tissues later they are used," he adds.

Go on hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avert touching their face every bit much as possible. Milstone says information technology can help if kids deport a toy that will go along their hands busy, just he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things make clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when near a person who is ill. Clean surfaces at abode and shop cleaners in cabinets that are either too loftier for your child to achieve or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

Address anxiety and stress. Talking things over as a family tin assistance identify specific fears and clarify the facts. It also helps for families to discuss a plan in case someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

"Children will look to y'all when deciding how to experience about COVID-19. If you feel calm and prepared, they are likely to experience similarly," Milstone notes.