After coming across serious news at the end of Dec 2019, about the new type of coronavirus that causes an infectious disease called COVID-19. Worried parents can now relax a bit with the fact that currently, the coronavirus symptoms in babies and children are milder in most of the cases when compared to the adults. In very few cases, children affected with the new coronavirus can experience severe illness such as organ failure or fluid congestion in the lungs. But in most of the cases, children don’t get sick and don’t exhibit any coronavirus symptoms where the risk involves more as they spread the virus accidentally.
Make sure to follow some easy ways to stop them from spreading it by maintaining distance from sick people, restricting them from playing with their friends, cleaning the most-touched surfaces like door handles, table surfaces, etc, and washing their hands more often.
In this article, let us cover coronavirus symptoms in babies and children, what is a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, precautions to be taken while breastfeeding a baby, and more.
How likely is a child to get COVID-19?
All children are prone to getting the virus that causes COVID-19, they don’t fall sick more often as adults. Children are less likely to experience severe illness with COVID-19 symptoms. Even though after the spread of disease all over the globe, the children who have died are very few.
According to the study of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 1,50,000 COVID-19 cases were registered between Feb 12th to April 2nd, out of which only 2,500 were children.
Similarly, countries like China and Italy which experienced large outbreaks, have been reported that hospitalization rates of children were very much lesser than for adults.
Anyhow, people who are infected with coronavirus commonly experience mild, moderate, and extreme illnesses depending on the severity of the disease. Older people with chronic disease conditions including cardiovascular disease, respiratory diseases, cancer, and diabetes are highly favorable to develop severe illness.
Children with chronic disease conditions are more likely to experience severe illness with COVID-19 symptoms.
What are Coronavirus Symptoms in babies and children?
Similar to the other age groups, most babies and children affected with COVID-19 will exhibit mild symptoms of a cold or flu, and some may not exhibit any symptoms at all.
Some of the most common coronavirus symptoms in babies and children are:
- Cough, sneezes sore throat and running nose
- Muscle pain that causes trouble while sleeping, and frequent crying
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Changes in behavior like oversleeping or sleeping less often
- Headache
- A loss of smell or taste which may result in a change of eating habits
Usually, babies may develop severe symptoms within a week that may require close monitoring. Some children may exhibit a serious condition in which body parts such as heart, kidneys, digestive system, blood vessels, brain, eyes, or skin are swelled with pain because of inflammation. This is called as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children.
Symptoms of MIS-C may include:
- Fever lasts more than 24 hours
- Stomach pain
- Skin rashes
- Swelling of feet/hands
- Swelling on lips and tongue
- Tiredness
- Red eyes
- Neck pain
Severe symptoms of MIS-C may include:
- Unable to wakeup
- Shortness of breath
- Pain in chest
- Bluish face
- Bluish lips
- Severe pain in stomach
What should I do if my child has symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19)?
- If your child is experiencing the symptoms of coronavirus and you think he or she might have been in contact with coronavirus affected person, contact your doctor and explain the condition of the child. Ask your family members to maintain distance from the child as much as possible, except for the medical care.
- If possible, isolate the child from other family members in a separate room that has an attached bathroom.
- Keep your family home if the doctor confirms that the child’s symptoms are of COVID-19 until the tests are done and symptoms are gone.
- Only one person take the responsibility of fulfilling the child’s needs so that others dont get in contact.
- The caretaker of the child needs to wear a mask when she/he is in the same room of the child.
- Every member of your home should wash their hands more often. They can use alcohol-based hand sanitizer or use soap and water for at least 20 seconds every time.
How to treat COVID-19 in babies?
As of now, there is no particular treatment for coronavirus disease. Anyhow, most of the symptoms are treated in people, including children by giving better rest, fluids, fever-reducing tablets, and traditional medicine for other symptoms. Doctors and scientists are working to invent the coronavirus vaccine for treatment. On 11th August 2020, the Government of Russia has officially announced that they are successful in the invention of coronavirus vaccine. The first coronavirus vaccine was taken by Russia President’s daughter. They are planning to supply the vaccine to their citizens by early October or end of the October which would be a huge relief for the rest of the countries.
Does breastfeeding a baby transmit coronavirus?
So far studies have shown that the new coronavirus is not found in breast milk. But if you have COVID-19, you could transmit the virus to the baby in the form of small droplets that roll out when you talk, sneeze or cough.
Seek the advice of the doctor to decide whether you should continue to breastfeed the baby or not. Breast milk is the most nutritious source for your baby that can protect baby from many illnesses.
To prevent the spread of the virus to the baby while breastfeeding:
- Wash your hands before touching the baby.
- Wear a mask while taking care of the baby.
- Try to avoid face to face contact with the baby.
- Use a tissue when you cough or sneeze.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, coronavirus can not be transmitted through breast milk, there is a lot more study about the new coronavirus.
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