In what should come as a huge relief for both parents and children, wearing of masks is not recommended for children aged 5 years or below according to the revised Covid-19 guidelines issued by the Union Health Ministry. Those aged 6-11 years may wear it depending on the ability of the child to use a mask safely and appropriately under direct supervision of parents.
Ensuring that the kid masks up properly has been of much concern to parents while masking up didn't go too well with children who felt suffocated.
As per the ‘Revised Comprehensive Guidelines for Management of COVID-19 in Children and Adolescents (below 18 years)', those aged 12 and above should wear a mask under the same conditions as adults, the guidelines said.
It also said that use of antivirals or monoclonal antibodies is not recommended for those less than 18 years of age, irrespective of severity of Covid infection, and if steroids are used, they should be tapered over 10 to 14 days, subject to clinical improvement.
The guidelines were reviewed by a group of experts in view of the current surge that is mainly attributed to the Omicron variant of the coronavirus, which is also a variant of concern.
The available data from other countries suggests that the disease caused by the Omicron variant is less severe. However, there is a need for a careful watch, as the current wave evolves, the ministry said.
It categorized cases as asymptomatic, mild, moderate and severe.
According to the guidelines, COVID-19 is a viral infection and antimicrobials have no role in the management of uncomplicated COVID-19 infection.
In asymptomatic and mild cases, antimicrobials are not recommended for therapy or prophylaxis while in moderate and severe cases, antimicrobials should not be prescribed unless there is clinical suspicion of a superadded infection.
In case of septic shock, empirical antimicrobials, according to body weight, are frequently added to cover all likely pathogens based on clinical judgement, patient host factors, local epidemiology and antimicrobial policy of the hospital, it said.
The guidelines stated that steroids are not indicated and are harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19. They are indicated only in hospitalised severe and critically ill COVID-19 cases under strict supervision, the guidelines said.
Steroids should be used at the right time, in the right dose and for the right duration, they stated.
Steroids should be avoided in the first three to five days since onset of symptoms as it prolongs viral shedding, the guidelines stated.
Anticoagulants are not indicated routinely and all hospitalized children should be evaluated for risk of developing thrombosis and monitored for development of thrombosis, the ministry said.
As far post-COVID-19 care is concerned, the guidelines stated that children with asymptomatic infection or mild disease should receive routine childcare, appropriate vaccination (if eligible), nutrition counselling, and psychological support on follow up.
In addition to the above, parents or caregivers of children, who suffered moderate to severe Covid, during discharge from hospital should be counselled regarding monitoring for persistence or worsening respiratory difficulty and explained the indications for bringing the child back to the facility, the guidelines stated.