How do I know if my kid has contracted this viral infection?

These are some of the most common questions plaguing the minds of parents all over the world. Earlier, we knew that COVID-19 does not affect children. But that observation does not hold true anymore. Contrary to what many people thought before, children, teens, and even babies can contract the coronavirus infection.

The alarming factor here is that scientists are anticipating a third wave of the pandemic that might affect young adults and children gravely. However, for now, all you need to know is children, and young adults are at the risk of getting infected. But the severity of the infection is observed to be relatively less in them than in the elderly crowd having various co-morbidities. But, children and young adults who have certain underlying medical conditions such as asthma, obesity, congenital heart issues, and more might be at higher risk of contracting the disease and getting affected severely by the same.

In this blog, we will discuss the various signs and symptoms that will help you understand that whether or not your child is suffering from COVID-19. However, note that COVID-19 affects children and young adults differently; the reason behind this has not been explored clearly per se because the strains of the virus keep mutating.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19 in children and teens?

Children and young adults who are affected by the virus will show symptoms such as –

• Enervating fever
• Immense tiredness
• Sore throat
• Vomiting and nausea
• Debilitating headaches
• Anosmia or loss of smell, and ageusia or loss of taste
• Breathlessness
• Chest congestion
• Runny nose
• Loss of appetite
• Diarrhea

If your child is suffering from any of the aforementioned symptoms, do not lose time thinking about what you should do. Rather, make haste and consult a doctor. Check with the ace doctors of Shalby Hospitals for authentic medical guidance in these tough times.

If your child’s condition is fairly stable and your doctor recommends keeping your child at home, you must follow the guidelines laid by WHO (World Health Organization) strictly. You have to isolate your child in a different room and ensure that the child is not using the common toilet or bathroom. There is no need to mention separately that physical distancing and isolation MUST BE followed strictly, along with all the other safety measures.

In some rare cases, children develop MIS-C

In some rare cases children have been seen to develop MIS-C, also called Multiple Inflammatory Syndrome. During this time, the immune system starts to get over-excited. The symptoms are as follows –

• Persistent fever for more than 24 hours.
• Diarrhea
• Vomiting
• Irruptions on the skin
• Redness of eyes so much so that it seems like conjunctivitis
• Troubled breathing
• Fatigue to an extreme degree
• Headaches, giddiness, and confusion
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Palpitations

How do you know that MIS-C is taking a fatal turn? 

• Your child will have a problem staying awake or sit up straight.
• Breathing trouble to a great degree
• Nasty bouts of stomach ache
• Discoloration of complexion – if the skin looks pale or gray or appears blue. Check the skin, lips, or nail beds for any red flags.

If you think that your kid has developed any of these signs mentioned here, you must be prompt and check with an experienced pediatrician at Shalby Hospitals without the slightest delay. We hope that very soon COVID-19 vaccines for children will also be available. But till then, we must stringently follow all the safety measures.