Preparedness of Possible Third Wave of COVID-19 among Paediatrics Patients in India

Sanjay Kumar Dabhi^*
*Correspondence: Sanjay Kumar Dabhi, Govt. College of Nursing, New Civil Hospital, India, Email:

Management of covid in new born and children and Clinical features and assessment of severity

Treatment according to severity: Mild, Moderate, Severe; MISC: Pathogenesis, clinical features, Diagnosis and treatment and Prevention and Vaccines in children (Figures 1 & 2).

Immunization & family participation: i) Follow routine immunization policy. ii) One ‘healthy’ family member following contact and droplet precautions should be allowed to stay with mother to assist in baby care activities.

Communication & counseling follow-up i) Families should be informed and explained the restrictions, diagnostic and treatment plans and be given regular periodic updates. ii) Use video/phone calls to compensate for the visitor restrictions. iii) Re-assess as per usual follow-up schedule. iv)Utilize phone/ video and community health workers. V) Provide explicit information about whom to contact and visit in case of symptoms.

Extra Precautions during Pandemic

i)Discharge mother and baby to home at the earliest once medically stable ii) At home, extra precautions baby should not be handled by multiple people iii)Correct masking and hand hygiene by mother and all family members iv) Good hygiene, clean environment and natural ventilation/light for mother-baby v)Standard care of mother and baby (Figure 3).

Case Definition of Paediatric Covid

Probable case: A suspect case for whom RT – PCR testing for Covid – 19 virus is inconclusive. ii) A suspect case for whom RT – PCR test could not be performed for any reason.

Confirmed case: A person/ child with laboratory confirmation of Covid – 19 infections irrespective of clinical signs and symptoms.

Clinical features: Majority -asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic; common symptoms i) Fever ii) Cough iii) breathlessness/ shortness of breath iv) Fatigue, myalgia v) Rhinorrhea, sore throat, vi) Loss of smell, vii) loss of taste viii) Diarrhea, ix) Few children may present with gastrointestinal symptoms and atypical symptoms also. Gastrointestinal symptoms seen in 5-10% It may occur without respiratory symptoms in children1 Diarrhea, vomiting and abdominal pain are most cutaneous manifestations seen in <3% It includes maculopapular, urticarial, and Vesicular eruptions and transient livedo reticularis 2,3 COVID toes: Reddish-purple nodules on distal digits.

Diagnostics

i) Preferred test: RT PCR/ CBNAAT ii) Antigen detection: nasopharyngeal swab.

Danger signs / Red flag signs: Assessment of Severity based on Clinical features and Management.