From the Department of Child Health and Diseases of the Memorial Şişli Hospital, Uz. Dr. Dicle Çelik talked about the curiosity about coronavirus in children.
Young children are typically known as super transmitters of germs in respiratory infections such as the flu. Therefore, it is not surprising that they are also the main infecters of the Covid-19 virus. Although it is thought that in the early stages of the coronavirus, children are not affected by this disease and are less likely to have serious diseases, according to the latest data, children are also adversely affected by the coronavirus.
PCR test can also be applied to children
The statement that "there is no contagious in children when symptoms of coronavirus infection are not seen" is not true. Therefore, if there are individuals who are positive for Covid-19 at home, the PCR test can be applied to all age groups from birth. If the parents have this infection, it should be kept in mind that these children may also be infected, even if there is no symptom in the children.
Pay attention to the symptoms
While the cases of coronavirus in children still remain a mystery, when looking at the cases around the world, this disease can be seen in them with the following symptoms:
- Fire
- Cough
- Throat ache
- Runny nose - stuffy and cold
- Muscle pain
- Abdominal pain
- Anorexia
- Weakness
- Palpitation
- Chest pain
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
- Skin rashes
- Loss of taste and smell in the late period
In addition, it should not be forgotten that if symptoms such as shortness of breath, rapid breathing, severe abdominal pain, drowsiness, changes in consciousness, bruising on the lips and face, and a feeling of tightness in the chest are observed in children, it should be kept in mind that these findings should be evaluated urgently.
Can be life-threatening
Coronavirus can be seen in different ways in children. Some of them have no clinical findings, while others may have symptoms of acute upper respiratory tract infections. Some children may encounter digestive problems such as diarrhea and abdominal pain without fever. In some, digestive system problems can be seen together with high fever, cough, sputum, wheezing in the chest. In recent data, it is known that if the coronavirus progresses in a week and is not treated, multiple organ failure, heart-related problems, blood clotting problems can be encountered. These symptoms can even be life-threatening.
Vitamin D is beneficial in protection
Bu zamIn the studies carried out around the world, it has been observed that the vitamin D level is higher in those who have mild Covid-19 compared to those who have severe, therefore, vitamin D can be given to children under the supervision of a doctor in terms of protection from Covid-19. It is known that vitamin C and zinc are also important in terms of protection, and also eating healthy, sleeping regularly, drinking plenty of water, getting fresh air, and engaging in physical activities suitable for daily age are among the preventive measures. Of course, mask, distance and hygiene rules should never be forgotten.
Viral infections can trigger asthma
Since the beginning of the coronavirus, one of the biggest fears is the issue of how children with asthma and bronchitis will be affected. Although it is still a mystery in this regard, there is a decrease in asthma attacks during the coronavirus process. It can be stated that only viral infections trigger asthma and similar pictures. It can be said that the mask set protects against viral infections and thus asthma attacks are reduced, and even recently, in the spring when the coronavirus is over, it has been among the discussions whether children should wear masks regularly.
In coronavirus, children should go to a doctor's control
One of the most curious issues is the MIS-C syndrome that occurs in children exposed to Covid-19. Some children may have Covid-19 without symptoms, or the child may have mild symptoms while a family member is infected, so it is not known whether children who are not tested will have MIS-C. Children who are infected from family members, with mild symptoms or no symptoms, should be taken to the doctor's control during the coronavirus infection process and immediately afterwards, and especially heart checks are required.
MIS-C can happen if there are infected family members
MIS-C syndrome is a disease that needs to be diagnosed with certain tests in the hospital and treatment should be started immediately. This problem may cause problems in the child's coronary vessels and impair their heart functions. These patients should be followed up by pediatric health and diseases, pediatric cardiology, pediatric infectious diseases department specialists.
MIS-C symptoms can be mistaken for appendicitis
It is known that this problem is mistaken for appendicitis in children in the early stages. When the symptoms did not improve despite the removal of the appendicitis, MIS-C syndrome occurred. With early diagnosis and treatment, children can recover without any damage.
For this reason, attention should be paid to the following symptoms that occur 2-4 weeks after the coronavirus:
- High fever of 24 degrees and above for more than 38 hours
- Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, severe abdominal pain
- Body rash
- Headache
- Respiratory problems
- Chapped lips
- Blood in the eye,
- Muscle-joint pains
- Skin peeling
Rules must be strictly followed in daycare centers
One of the biggest questions of working parents lately is whether to send their children to daycare or not. In this sense, the compliance of the child with the measures at school is very important. Care should be taken to ensure that every child wears a mask, their masks are changed frequently, the classes are not crowded, HES codes are paid attention to, and social distance is observed. It is known that unmasked environments increase the risk. For children to be protected from coronavirus, distance, masks and hygiene measures should be explained carefully and accurately by teachers and parents, if individuals with chronic diseases live in the same house with the child, the physician and the family should decide together whether the child should be sent to the nursery or day care center.
What tests should be given to children?
Another issue that is curious is whether children will be checked for antibodies after coronavirus. Antibodies are not routinely checked. It is not known whether a child who is not known to have had a coronavirus again will have a coronavirus. Therefore, antibody testing has no extra benefit for children in routine, but when there is suspicion of infection, PCR (throat and nose) test is also performed on children.
Everyone should be careful
In this process, parents should definitely have a PCR test when they see symptoms of upper respiratory tract infections, flu, cold, and cold in themselves and in their children. Early diagnosis and early isolation are very important in this process. Whether or not there is a disease, attention should be paid to mask, distance and hygiene rules. If possible, it is necessary to stay away from collective environments and live in this way for a while. Everyone needs to be careful individually. Despite vaccinations, the rules should be followed without compromising. For this reason, it is important for every member of the society to apply all the rules correctly and completely in this process.
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