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Posts Tagged "COVID-19"

6Dec2022

Common Respiratory Illnesses for Children in Winter

The winter is the season with the most colds, coughs, and runny noses. It is simpler to spread infectious agents in crowded interior environments, dry hot air, and poor air circulation.

Common Colds

Children often experience three to ten colds per year. Children who attend child care or school for the first couple of years get one or two more colds than children of the same age who exclusively receive care at home and who do not have siblings to spread illness.

Children who have been in child care for a year or more after turning three have fewer colds than those who have not developed an immunity from being in group care.

At least 100 distinct virus types are capable of causing cold symptoms. Runny nose, scratchy or sore throat, headache, cough, sneezing, fussiness, muscle aches, or fatigue are some of the symptoms. Some kids might be experiencing a low-grade fever. A slight increase in body temperature is a sign that the body is attempting to combat an issue. The body uses a fever to fight off illness. As long as the youngster does not feel uncomfortable, these fevers do not require medical attention.

The common cold cannot be cured by medicine. Numerous studies have shown that over-the-counter cold remedies may not work and may even have negative side effects.

RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus)

One of the many viruses that cause respiratory illnesses—ailments of the nose, throat, and lungs—is the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). The late fall to early spring seasons are when this virus strikes.

RSV typically results in a cold, which may progress to pneumonia or bronchiolitis (a lower respiratory tract infection). In addition to cold symptoms, bronchiolitis symptoms can include wheezing, quick breathing, nose flare-ups, head bobbing while breathing, rhythmic grunting while breathing, belly breathing, pulling between the ribs, and/or pulling around the lower neck.

The average duration of symptoms is 5-7 days. On days three through five of the illness, RSV symptoms are often at their worst. Thankfully, almost all kids who contract RSV recover on their own.

Infants who are more likely to get a severe RSV infection include:

  • Infants who are premature or have low birth weight at the beginning of the RSV season are young chronologically (less than 12 weeks) (especially those born before 29 weeks gestation)
  • Perinatal chronic lung disease
  • Babies with certain heart abnormalities
  • Those whose immune systems are compromised as a result of disease or medical interventions

Low birth weight, having siblings, maternal smoking during pregnancy, exposure to secondhand smoke in the home, a history of atopy (allergies/eczema), not breastfeeding, being around children in a child care setting, or living in crowded conditions are additional risk factors for severe RSV infections.

In the event that a youngster experiences any of the following:

  • Bronchitis signs and symptoms (listed above)
  • Dehydration signs and symptoms (fewer than one wet diaper every eight hours)
  • Pauses or breathing issues
  • Color of the tongue, lips, or skin is gray or blue.
  • Markedly reduced activity and alertness

Influenza (Flu)

The flu virus is frequent and unexpected. Even in youngsters who are healthy, it can result in catastrophic consequences.

Serious flu-related consequences are more likely to affect some persons. These consist of:

  • Children under the age of five, particularly those under the age of two
  • Premature babies
  • Children of any age who have certain long-term health issues, such as heart disease, lung disease, a neurologic or neurodevelopmental impairment like asthma,
  • Expecting mothers
  • Adults 65 years of age and older: Adults’ immune systems deteriorate with age.

The flu vaccine aids in lowering the number of serious illnesses and fatalities brought on by influenza each year. The national American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that any approved, suggested, and age-appropriate vaccine be given for the 2021–2022 flu season.

For the current flu season, children older than six months, parents, and other family members should all get the flu shot.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

Please get in touch with Kid’s 1st Pediatrics for details on how to keep your child safe and well during the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Pediatrics
30Dec2021

Dealing with Holiday Sniffles

As the holidays approach, a number of potential group gatherings will come along with them. While many will find themselves gathering with friends and family for the first time in quite a while, it’s important to remember that these events are pretty common vectors for spreading illness. As a parent, it’s essential to know how to deal with the holiday sniffles when they occur and when to bring in a doctor.

The good news is that most of the sicknesses picked up by children during this time of year are the same illnesses that have plagued people for centuries. The same kinds of colds and viruses are floating around that existed pre-Covid, and it’s essential for parents to remember that it’s far more likely for a child to get a simple cold than it is for them to pick up something more serious. As such, the first thing to remember when you start to see your child getting sick is that panicking is the wrong response.

Steps to Take if Your Child Might be Sick

One of the most important things you can look at right now is your child’s temperature. If your child isn’t running a fever or only has a mild fever (sub-100, for example), you can generally feel a bit safer about handling the problem at home. However, with that said, even a child who doesn’t have a fever might need to get tested if they have more than one other Covid symptom.

It is, however, vital that you keep your sick children home. While not every illness is Covid, it’s important to remember that spreading sickness is never a good idea. It’s always better to be safe than to be sorry, after all, and most people will appreciate it if you are able to stay home with a sick child instead of spreading their illness around the group.

So, how do you deal with holiday sniffles? Stay calm, monitor your child, and stay home if they aren’t feeling well. If you are concerned, call your pediatrician and make sure to make an appointment to get your child checked out. Even if the problem is mild, it’s sometimes better to get a professional opinion.

Pediatrics
15Oct2021

Dealing with a Cold in the Age of COVID-19

As the seasons change from summer to autumn, many children begin to get the first sniffles of the year. While you might have easily been able to write this off in the past, the continued prevalence of COVID-19 has made even what might have once been an inconsequential cough seem overly threatening. As such, it’s incredibly important to know how to deal with something like the common cold in times of more heightened scrutiny.

Understanding the Symptoms

The first and perhaps most important thing you’ll need to know how to do is to separate out symptoms of the common cold from COVID symptoms. While some of the symptoms, like a cough or even a mild fever, might be present in both, there are other symptoms that are relatively unique to COVID. For example, any loss of a child’s sense of smell or taste is usually a good sign that a test is needed, as are stomach problems like diarrhea. Respiratory issues are also an issue, as you’ll want to seek care if your child is having trouble breathing even if they aren’t positive for COVID-19.

It’s also generally a better idea to be safe than to be sorry. If you think that your child’s cold is more than just a cold, keep them home even if they don’t seem to have serious symptoms. If the symptoms persist or get worse, call your pediatrician to get guidance. In many cases, your pediatrician will suggest that you get your child tested.

One of the toughest things to deal with is the fact that the common cold is just as likely to occur as it ever was. Unfortunately, this means that you’re going to have to deal with many false alarms during this cold and flu season, but that’s just the nature of the world today. As long as you’re careful and consult with your doctor as necessary, you can help to safeguard your child’s health.

Pediatrics
24Sep2021

Talking to Your Child About the COVID-19 Vaccine

COVID-19 continues to be an ongoing issue across the world, with vaccination becoming a hot topic among many groups. As a parent, you do owe it to your child to have a frank discussion about what the vaccine may mean for him or her, and you’ll need to be able to answer any questions that your child may have. Fortunately, doing so is really a matter of being able to find the correct information.

Providing Your Child with Valuable Information

The beginning of your discussion should always start with a frank discussion of what the vaccine is and is not. If you’re not sure about the definition of a vaccine, it’s absolutely fine to look it up and learn a bit more yourself. From there, you can explain to your child that the vaccine is much like those he or she already received for school – not a cure for an illness, but rather protection from contracting the illness itself. You can talk to your child about the risks that are still present even if he or she is vaccinated and, if appropriate, what you consider the risks of vaccination might be.

It’s vital that you present accurate information to your child, so use this time to work together. Ignore social media and stick to well-regarded, peer-reviewed journals or to public health websites that break down the information from those sources. This will not only help your child learn a bit more about the vaccination process but also about how to look up credible sources for health information in the future.

Don’t think that you have to do this all alone, though. You can and should involve your child’s pediatrician in this discussion. Not only will this allow you to bring a more authoritative source into the conversation, but it will also give you a chance to ask the questions to which you might not be able to find satisfying answers online.

Pediatrics
2Feb2021

What You Need to Know About the Coronavirus Vaccine

As we continue to be in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, you have probably read every article you can find about keeping your children as safe as possible these days, especially if they have returned to school full-time or part-time. However, one subject that is not addressed often is the new coronavirus vaccine and how it relates to children. Here is what you need to know.

The Development of COVID-19 Vaccines

Currently, the COVID vaccine is not available to children and can only be used on individuals over the age of 16. Therefore, if you have older teenagers in your home, you will want to stay posted on when the state of California opens up immunization dates for this age group. Until then, you will also want to stay up-to-date on immunization options for your own age group. After all, you can help protect the younger members of your household by taking the best possible care of your own health.

However, it is also important to note that vaccine trials have been opened up for some children. Pfizer currently has a completely filled vaccine trial group for children between the ages of 12 and 15. Moderna, whose vaccine has currently only been approved for individuals 18 years of age and older, is also working on filling a study group for individuals between the ages of 12 and 17. These are important steps that must be taken before trials of even younger groups can begin.

Protecting Children from COVID-19

Although your children will not be able to get the COVID vaccine yet, there are still numerous steps you can take to keep them safe during these difficult months. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, children should be instructed to wash their hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or to use hand sanitizer. In addition, show them how to use a face mask and how to keep the mask securely over the nose and mouth. Showing them how to cover their coughs and sneezes is important at any point in the year, but it is even more important these days.

While these may be some of the most stressful months you can remember living through, Kid’s 1st Pediatrics can take at least one burden off your mind. Choose our clinic for cutting-edge pediatric care for the youngest members of your household today.

Pediatrics
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