Coronavirus in boys and girls
How does contagion occur?
The virus is spread by close contact with diagnosed patients, by infected family members, or by traveling to areas where it is present.
This happens in two ways:
- When the infected person sneezes or coughs, it disperses small droplets of water into the air. These droplets can land in the nose, mouth or eyes of children who are nearby; or, they can inspire them.
- Also, it is possible for children to become infected by rubbing a surface covered with infected droplets and then touching their mouth, nose, or eyes.
What are the symptoms of the COVID-19 virus in children?
Boys and girls, although they have mild symptoms, are also infected and can end up sick.
Therefore, it is necessary to act immediately and go to the emergency room if they have high fevers, cough, sore throat, runny nose and diarrhea.
However, an infected minor is likely to be asymptomatic , that is, infected but without symptoms.
In adults, there may be different symptoms, including: anosmia (loss of smell), loss of taste (ageusia), lightheadedness, choking, muscle pain, headache, nausea, vomiting and disorientation.
The virus can take from 2 to 14 days to show symptoms.
Diagnosis:
Based on clinical analysis of hospitalized pediatric patients in Wuhan, China, rectal swab testing and gastrointestinal tract testing are the most effective methods for diagnosing children with COVID-19.
In adults, on the other hand, infection is identified by a nasopharyngeal swab test and chest x-rays to determine possible pneumonia.
Treatment:
At this time, there is no vaccine for the COVID-19 coronavirus.
However, when a pediatric patient tests positive, he or she should receive immediate medical care in a hospital with respiratory support, IV fluids, and other types of treatment.
Patients who are discharged will undergo follow-up tests according to the case - evolution.
Finally, we must not forget that antibiotics are not useful to treat viral infections, that is, they are not useful to treat coronavirus infections.
Medicines used against the flu also do not work because they are different viruses.
That is why it is necessary to be attentive to the symptoms that children may present, and more so if they previously have congenital heart disease, as this makes it more difficult and dangerous to be infected by the new coronavirus.
