Covid-19 Prevention and management in Children (for Parents / Care giver)

The ongoing wave of Covid-19 is slowly infection children below 18 years although not severe. However, with new variants of the Virus one cannot estimate the severity of the infection in the coming days.  Till a vaccine is developed for children below 18 years of age parents should take all the Covid-19 precautionary measures for their children. Here are some steps for parents/ care giver to prevent and manage Covid-19 in Children

1. What should parents/ Care giver do?
2. Teach children more than 2 years to wash hand with soap and water for 20 second, maintain distance of 6 feet from others and limit in-person playtime.
3. Continue Breastfeeding of Children under 2 years by following Covid appropriate Behaviour
4. If child is more than 5 years, teach them to always wear mask while going out.
5. Clean  commonly touched places, toys at least once a day with 1% sodium hypochlorite.
6. Engage child in indoor physical and learning activities as much as possible.
7. When to suspect Covid in Children?

Symptoms are similar in adults and children- Fever or Chills, cough, Nasal congestion or running nose, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing, diarrhea and poor appetite.

• Take extra care if your child has any of the following.
• Malnutrition, disability, Conditions such as HIV, underlying cardiac, liver, kidney problem.
• Who can be treated at home Isolation?
• Asymptomatic or children with mild symptoms like sore throat; cough can be managed at home.
• Care of children under home isolation.
• Don’t panic, majority of cases can be easily managed at home if detected early.
• Inform ASHA/other functionaries in your areas.
• Keep the child in a well- ventilated room.
• Children less than 5 years should be accompanied by mother or caretaker during isolation.
• If home isolation is not possible take the child to the nearest Covid Care Centre.
• Monitor the child by:
• Counting respiratory rate 2-3 times a day.
• Looking for chest in drawing.
• Looking for bluish discoloration of skin.
• Checking body parts to ascertain if it is extremely cold.
• Checking Oxygen saturation and body temperature 4th hourly.
• Fluid intake in 24 hours. Feeding intake and maintaining feeding chart
• Activity level
• Symptomatic Management of Home isolated children
• For Fever:  Paracetamol 10-15mg/kg/dose can be given in 4-6 hours interval.