NISHTHA guidebook elucidates Covid safety rules for kids
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, June 14 2021: While the Covid-19 pandemic and related restrictions are taking toll on the physical and mental well-being of every individual, children are one of the worst affected groups of people, if not by the virus itself but by the restrictions imposed as part of the containment measures to defeat the virus.

For children, school time and playtime are important parts of their lives through which they not only develop physical health but also improve their mental health and personality.

However, curfew and lockdown imposed by the government are forcing them to stay home without getting any opportunity for socialization, which is impacting their physical and mental health.

In order to ensure physical and mental well-being of children during the pandemic, parents should provide balance diet to their children, arrange practice of yoga or exercises, ensure sufficient and quality sleeping, promote learning new skills and limit screen times like watching TV and use of mobile phones.

With many parents looking for information to protect their children from this pandemic, USAID's flagship health system strengthening project NISHTHA developed a guidebook for parents.

The guidebook states that children are less prone to infection of Covid-19 but the second wave of the pandemic is witnessing higher infection rate and as such number of infected children is also rising proportionately.

In order to protect children from the pandemic, the guidebook suggests following Covid appropriate behaviour such as hand washing, wearing mask properly and maintaining physical distance.

It also suggests avoiding attending public functions, social gatherings and group play activities and keeping away children from infected family members.

As per Indian Academy of Paediatrics, all children above the age of 2 years should wear masks but children below 2 years should not wear masks due to safety reason.

Majority of children are asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic and a small proportion of infected children might need hospitalization.

Only 1 to 3 per cent of symptomatic cases among children might develop severe complications requiring intensive care admission.

Children with co-morbid conditions such as congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, chronic organ dysfunction and obesity have higher chances of developing severe illnesses, it stated.

Regarding management of Covid-19 cases in a family, the guidebook stresses letting the child stay with the mother unless the mother is too sick in case both mother and father are infected.

Breastfeeding should continue as far as feasible in infant.

If the mother is positive and the child is negative, the mother can take care of the child if no better option is available and the mother is not too sick or hospitalised.

However, the mother should follow Covid appropriate behaviour.

If the child is positive and parents negative, the parents can take care of the child in or out of the hospital by using proper masks or PPE protection.

If any child is suspected of having Covid-19, one should not leave the child with grandparents since elderly people are at very high risks of developing serious complications.

Unless the child is negative and does not have any symptoms of Covid, he/she should not be left with grandparents.

Symptoms of Covid-19 in children include cold, mild cough, fever, shortness of breath, sore throat and body pain.

Symptoms such as pain in the abdomen, loose motions and vomiting are also present in children in the second wave.

In some cases Covid toes, which are reddish purple nodules on distal digits are seen predominantly in children and younger adults.

One should get their children tested if fever continues beyond three days, if any of the family members are positive, if child is symptomatic and has come in close contact with any infected person.

Every symptom of fever/cough should be considered as a possibility of Covid-19, particularly if any family member is currently Covid positive or was recently infected by the virus.

The guidebook also suggests going for RTPCR, TruNat or CBNAAT as the preferred test while RAT should be second option since a positive test result is confirmatory in RAT but a negative result is not.

Chest CT scan is not a routine test for Covid-19 and should only be done when recommended by a doctor.

In home isolation, one should record temperature and oxygen saturation level with a pulse oximeter every 6 hours.

If fever is above 100 Fahrenheit or 37 degree Celsius, give paracetamol at the dose of 10-15 mg per kg which may be repeated every 4 to 6 hours.

For cough, warm saline gargles and drinking of plenty of liquids will help.

One should ensure oral fluids to maintain hydration and give nutritious diet while at the same time maintaining good hygiene and Covid appropriate behaviour.

One may also provide Vitamin C and Zinc to boost overall health and immunity.

However, one should rush to a hospital with Covid care facility if high fever lasts beyond 4 or 5 days, child decreases oral intake, become lethargic, increase respiratory rate and oxygen saturation level dropping below 95 per cent at home Routine immunisation can be continued two weeks after the child has fully recovered.

If the child needs some higher dose medications such as high dose steroids which suppress immunity, it would be wise to defer immunisation for three months after medication.

Lactating mothers should follow precautions for breastfeeding their child during the recommended period of home isolation, such as handwashing before every breastfeeding session, wearing medical masks.

As per guidelines of the ministry of health and family welfare, vaccines are not being given to pregnant women but lactating mothers can get vaccinated.

Comment