Don’t dismiss as viral fever if your kid is having symptoms like fever, cough, breathlessness/shortness of breath, fatigue, myalgia, rhinorrhea, sore throat, diarrhea, loss of smell, loss of taste etc. S/he might be suffering from coronavirus, said the Union Health Ministry which has for the first time admitted that kids too can catch Covid 19.
Some children may also have gastrointestinal symptoms. Such children do not need any investigations. These children can be managed at home with home isolation and symptomatic treatment. Children with symptoms can be treated at home, as per the protocol for management of the pandemic in paediatric age group issued by the Ministry in the wake of studies that second wave of Covid-19 is not sparing the children also.
As per the Ministry, the majority of children with coronavirus infection may be asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic, moderately sick or severe illness.
According to the Ministry, asymptomatic children are usually identified while screening and they do not require any treatment except monitoring for development of symptoms and subsequent treatment according to assessed severity. Children with Inflammatory Syndrome had mild CovidOVID-19, Shows US Study.
“Parents/ caretaker are required to maintain a monitoring chart including counting of respiratory rates 2-3 times a day when child is not crying, looking for chest indrawing, bluish discolouration of body, cold extremities, urine output, oxygen saturation monitoring (hand held pulse oximeter) if feasible, fluid intake, activity level, especially for young children. Doctors or health care workers should be contacted regularly,” as per the guidelines.
It said that children with moderate COVID – 19 disease may be suffering from pneumonia which may not be clinically apparent and respiratory issues. In this case no lab tests are required routinely unless indicated by associated co-morbid conditions.
Regarding treatment, the protocol says that children with moderate Covid-19 disease should be admitted in Dedicated Covid Health Centre or Secondary level Healthcare Facility and monitored for clinical progress. Maintain fluid and electrolyte balance. Encourage oral feeds (breast feeds in infants); if oral intake is poor, intravenous fluid therapy should be initiated.
The guidelines give in detail about the vitals to be observed and medicines to be given during fever. In the case of the children with Severe Covid-19 disease, the protocol does not rule out severe pneumonia, Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Septic Shock, Multi-organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS), or pneumonia with cyanosis. Clinically, such children may present with grunting, severe retraction of chest, lethargy, somnolence, seizure.