COVID-19 in children: Symptoms, signs and treatment

Thumb- COVID-19: Measures to keep your child safe

The second wave of covid is also affecting adolescents and kids. Therefore, it is required that we get aware of the measures which we have to follow from our end. The Health Ministry has issued an advisory which guides how to identify covid in kids, how to categorise and also how to treat them. Children affected by COVID may get mild, moderate or severe symptoms just like adults. Asymptomatic cases are also being reported in kids. Generic symptoms of COVID in kids – Fever, cough, difficulty in breathing, tiredness, body pain, loss of taste and smell.

*How to handle asymptomatic or mild symptomatic cases*

Mild symptomatic cases are the ones where a patient has a runny nose, or may feel difficulty in breathing along with gastrointestinal problems. As per health ministry, these cases need not to be tested, rather the kids can be isolated and treated at home.

In case of fever, paracetamol 10-15mg can be given after every 4-6 hours. The Health Ministry has suggested kids to gargle with lukewarm water. Make sure that your child should be hydrated enough. Remember no antibiotic is required in mild or asymptomatic cases.

*Make a chart*

Health Ministry has advised to make a chart and update it 2-3 times a day. Things which need to be monitored are-Respiratory rate, any difficulty in chest, oxygen saturation level.

*Advisory for kids having moderate symptoms*

The oxygen saturation level, irrespective of age, should be more than 90 to be considered a moderate symptomatic case. If the child has not been a sufferer of any other disease in the past, there is no need of lab test.

*How to treat Moderate symptomatic patients ?*

Patient needs to be admitted in a dedicated covid care center or secondary level health healthcare so that frontline warriors keep an eye on him/her. Oral feed should be encouraged (breast milk in case of babies).If patient is not able to eat , fluid therapy should be started

If the temperature is more than 100.4 degree F , Paracetamol 10-15mg can be given after a gap of 4-6 hours. If SPO2 goes down below 94%, oxygen will be required

*Severe symptomatic COVID patients*

Patients having oxygen saturation of less than 90% will be counted in this category. The kid should be immediately admitted to nearly covid care clinic.

Recently National Commission of child rights have launched a toll free helpline to provide psychosocial mental support for children affected during COVID. Children or parent may dial 1800-121-2830 to reach to professional counsellor. That’s all for today, thanks for watching , take care.