For the past few years, the world's attention has been focused on the 2019 Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic which has claimed the lives of millions of people. The disease caused by the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) does not only affect adults, but also children and infants around the world. However, what is the effect of COVID-19 on children and infants?
The number of cases of COVID-19 in children is increasing
Parents must be worried about the global COVID-19 pandemic since the beginning of 2020.
How not, the pandemic that occurred because of the SARS-Cov-2 infection has made hundreds of people suffer and even died.
Moreover, the SARS-Cov-2 virus also continues to mutate to give rise to various new variants, for example the Delta variant COVID-19 or the Lambda variant COVID-19 which is said to be able to spread faster.
Due to the development of this virus and disease, more cases of COVID-19 are occurring in children and infants.
How can children and infants get the SARS-Cov-2 virus?
Like adults, the spread of the SARS-Cov-2 virus in children also occurs in the same way.
This virus can be spread from person to person through saliva splashes (droplets) that come out of the mouth when coughing or sneezing through close contact.
This means that your child can get this virus if they breathe air that already contains the SARS-Cov-2 virus from an infected person.
In addition, your child can become infected if they touch the surface of an object that has been exposed to the SARS-Cov-2 virus.
This virus then enters the body if the child accidentally touches the eyes, nose, or mouth without washing their hands first.
Unlike older children, newborns can be exposed to the virus during or after delivery. He may have contracted it from a mother or caregiver who was exposed to COVID-19.
Symptoms of COVID-19 in children and babies that parents need to know
Normally, the symptoms of COVID-19 that appear in children and infants are not much different from those that occur in adults.
The symptoms are similar to the flu in children that occurs 2-4 days after the virus infects.
However, the symptoms of COVID-19 in children and infants are generally only mild, or even in some cases asymptomatic.
Here are some symptoms that parents need to know in order to increase alertness and get treatment early.
- The child has a fever or chills.
- Sneezing and coughing in children.
- Runny nose.
- The child has muscle or body pain.
- Sore throat.
- Shortness of breath in children.
- Loss of smell or taste.
- Headaches in children.
- Extreme fatigue.
- Nausea or vomiting in children.
- Child has diarrhea or stomach pain.
- Changes in the skin, such as discolored areas of the skin on the feet or hands.
The signs above may be similar to other childhood illnesses. However, it is possible that these symptoms indicate the child's body is being attacked by this virus.
In addition, although the majority are only mild, more serious symptoms can occur in your baby and child.
Therefore, you should stay alert and pay attention to other signs that may appear.
What should I do if my child has symptoms of COVID-19?
If you find these symptoms in your child, you should stay calm and immediately do a test to diagnose COVID-19, such as a PCR test.
If the results are positive and your child's symptoms are mild, your child may just need to self-isolate at home.
Allow your child to rest and meet their fluid needs while self-isolating. However, if the symptoms bother you, you should take your child to the doctor.
The doctor will determine whether your child needs only home care, outpatient treatment, or hospital stay.
The doctor may also prescribe medication to relieve your child's symptoms.
In addition, be aware of the signs or symptoms of serious COVID-19 in your child. Here are serious symptoms you should watch out for.
- Having breathing problems that are severe enough to gasp with every breath.
- Confusion or very sleepy.
- Chest pain.
- Dizzy.
- The child's skin is cold, sweaty, or pale, or the lips are bluish.
- The child has severe stomach pain.
- Unable to get out of bed.
In this case, you may need to take your child to the emergency department for immediate medical attention.
If it's severe, your child may need to be on a ventilator to help him breathe.
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