COVID-19 Symptoms in Babies & Children and How to Take Care of Them
by Loving Parents Loving ParentsWith
the second wave in India has shown an unexpected surge in the number of
coronavirus (covid-19) cases, it has made us all the more cautious for
ourselves and our family members, especially our kids. Earlier, during the
first wave of this global pandemic, adults were at higher risks of getting
infected with this virus. But during the second wave, a gene mutation has been
noticed in the novel coronavirus (covid-19) which is now affecting children
health below 18 years as well. With such a risk to their health, it is
essential to understand all the COVID-19
symptoms in babies and children along with the pointers to
help them recuperate into healthy lifestyle beings.
1. Are kids at a higher risk of getting coronavirus?
With
the new strain of coronavirus (covid-19) that is causing the uphaul in the
number of cases currently, both kids and adults alike are at risk of getting
infected. In 2020, the first strain of coronavirus (covid-19) was more harmful
to adults and caused only a few cases, that too asymptomatic, in babies and
children. But with the new mutation, COVID-19 symptoms in babies and children
are also mimicking the severe corona symptoms that were earlier seen in adults
only.
2. Why were children health affected differently earlier?
Since
most of the symptoms of coronavirus (covid-19) were flu-like and children
health get more infected with flu throughout the year rather than the adults,
it was assumed by the scientists that their body gave them better protection against
the virus. But the new mutation seems to have overridden their immunity and is affecting them severely as well.
Also Read: How to talk to your kids about COVID-19?
3. How is coronavirus (covid-19) affecting the babies?
The
newborn babies and babies under two years can also develop coronavirus during delivery or by
coming in contact with a sick caregiver. This is happening as their immune
system is not yet developed properly and they also have smaller airways. Most
of their systems are to be developed as they grow. The smaller airways and lack
of immunity put them at a higher risk of getting infected and developing severe
respiratory diseases.
If you have just given birth, whether you are sure or unsure about your symptoms, make sure you take all the precautions while taking care of your newborn baby. If your symptoms are severe, you might have to be kept separately from your newborn baby until you are healthy again. Talk to your doctor and take all the precautions to make sure that your newborn baby is healthy.
4. What are the symptoms that parents should look out for?
The
COVID-19 symptoms in babies and children might be milder than the adults. They
may carry the virus load for a long time but might get rid of the symptoms in
one to two weeks only. Even though the symptoms in different babies and
children might manifest differently, here are some of the symptoms that parents should keep an eye on.
- Runny
nose or congestion in the nose and chest
- Sore
throat
- Fever
and chills
- Excessive
shaking
- Fatigue
- Gastrointestinal
issues
- Loss
of appetite or improper eating/feeding
- Headaches
- Bellyaches
- Diarrhea
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss
of taste and smell
5. What is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome?
The
multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a condition in which
some of the major organs of the body – heart, lungs, kidney, blood vessels,
digestive system, brain, and skin – get severely inflamed. MIS-C has been
noticed as one of the post-COVID syndromes as the majority of the children who
were affected with coronavirus (covid-19) in the past seem to develop this
condition. The symptoms of MIS-C include:
- Fever
that lasts more than 24 hours
- Nausea
and vomiting
- Headache,
dizziness
- Swollen
lymph nodes
- Diarrhea
- Rashes
on the skin
- Redness
in the eyes
- Redness
and swelling in the tongue and lips
- Increased
heartbeat and rapid breathing
Some of the severe MIS-C symptoms include:
- Inability
to wake up or stay awake
- Severe
pain in the stomach
- White,
blue or grey skin, lips, tongue, nails
- Confusion
- Difficulty
in breathing
When
you see any of the severe symptoms, take your child directly to an emergency
room to the nearest hospital.
6. What to do when your child tests positive?
When
you see the first COVID-19 symptoms in babies or children, the first step is to
isolate the child. For small children health, it is difficult to isolate them
in a separate room for a longer duration. But parents can take extra
precautions like double masking, wearing a PPE kit or visors along with the
mask. The key to fighting coronavirus (covid-19) is taking precautionary steps
as soon as the first signs appear.
Is there a coronavirus (covid-19) vaccine available for
babies and children?
Currently,
there is no vaccine available for babies and children. Vaccines are available
for 18+ adults only. Though scientists have started studying the effects of
vaccination on children health and we can hope that some immunization treatment
might be available in future.
Also Read: Tips For Parents To Stay Calm During COVID-19
7. How do I keep my children safe?
There
are several steps that you can take to keep your children safe and sound.
- Wash
your hands regularly with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds,
regularly and more often. The sanitizer that you are using, make sure that
it has more than 60% alcohol content. You can teach some poem or ask them
to sing the Happy Birthday song twice so that they learn to wash their
hands for 20 seconds at least. Show them a proper way to wash their hands
thoroughly, in between the fingers and thumbs as well.
- Cover
your nose and mouth when you/they sneeze. Ensure that you immediately
throw away the used tissue. Don’t forget to wash your hands afterwards.
- Ask
your kids to wash their hands after using the washroom. They must wash
their hands before and after eating food as well.
- Inside
your home as well, maintain social distancing. Ask your kids and family
members to maintain a distance of about 6 feet while being inside the
home.
- Restrict
the in-person play dates with other children or involvement of kids in
activities that include shared pieces of equipment. Encourage them to stay
in touch with family in friends via video calls and phone calls. Organize
virtual meet-up and family game nights to engage them.
- Ask
your child to wear a cloth mask when they are around people. Do not place
a hard mask on children’s faces, especially on kids below 2 years of age,
if they have any breathing problems.
- Clean
and disinfect your home every day. Disinfect the most touched and used
areas and surfaces like tables, play stations, study table. Wash the toys
of your child, especially the ones they put in their mouths, with soap and
water. Clean the surfaces that they might tough like diaper station, edges
of the crib etc.
- Keep
your child’s immunization and vaccination calendar up to date. Many
doctors are seeing children who are COVID-19 positive and negative
separately, in a different location as well. Make sure you make a proper
appointment with the doctor to avoid waiting with others.
The
Bottom Line
It is
essential for parents to understand that while there are many researchers who
are working to create a vaccine to combat the COVID-19 symptoms in babies and
children, this vaccine would not be available at least before 2022. To ensure
that your children health are not affected, follow some of the above mentioned
steps. The most important thing that you can do right now is to get yourself
and all the other eligible members vaccinated at the earliest.
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Created on Jun 2nd 2021 04:26. Viewed 280 times.