In case you missed it…a summary of our COVID week topics is to follow!

I’m sure we can all agree that the year of COVID-19 has been a whirlwind, and it’s definitely changed the way we’re currently living our lives. One thing that we as pediatricians and parents can be thankful for is the fact that children haven’t been getting as sick as adults over the past year! That being said, it is still important to note that children still can get sick, and further, spread the illness to those around them. 

Here are some important facts about COVID in kiddos that we think you should know!

• Of the 149,082 reported cases in the US as of April, only 1.7% (2,572) were children (who make up 22% of the US total population)

• Research shows that children are just as likely to become infected as adults

• We probably aren’t seeing the same numbers in children as in adults because kids are not getting sick and have minimal symptoms that are easily overlooked—in fact, sometimes the symptoms are so mils that they can even be confused for allergies!

• Children that are less than 1 year of age or those with other underlying medical conditions are most likely to be hospitalized

• Some kids might not even have a fever, and some may not lose their sense of taste or smell (one of the key symptoms of COVID reported in adults)

• If your child is around someone infected with COVID, they might not get the illness but can still potentially have complications later. Yikes! That’s a bit scary

Here are some of the COMMON SYMPTOMS of COVID infection, but we must repeat once again, kids can still be carrying the virus and spread it without having any symptoms at all… 

·      Fever

·      Sore throat

·      Cough, congestion or runny nose

·      Stomach aches

·      Vomiting or diarrhea

·      Loss of taste or sense of smell

·      Headaches

·      Rash

·      Body aches

·      Chills

And the list goes on…

So when in doubt, talk to your pediatrician to determine if your child needs to be tested and what specific precautions you should be taking!

 

Also of note: The complications of COVID in children are different than those seen in adults and can occur 2-6 weeks after initial infection. Well, what are the complications you might ask?

Good question!

It’s called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children—this is a serious condition where different parts of the body become inflamed. So far, it seems that this can happen to children of any age. We know this sounds super scary, but don’t get too worked up about it because luckily, this complication is very rare! So far, the US has reported only a little over 1000 cases total. Still, the best thing you can do is take the precautions to keep yourself and your little ones safe so that this doesn’t become a risk! 

Now we’re going to introduce you to a little game we call MythBusters: PediPals Edition! (patent pending) and we’re going to let you in on some of the most common myths that are being spread about COVID-19 in children:

·      Children must have fever to have COVID

·      Children are less likely to be infected than adults

·      Most children are immune to coronavirus

·      Older children are more prone to complications of COVID-19

And lastly, we know you’re all thinking about it: the vaccine. Vaccines have historically been incredibly effective in eradicating infections, and we are optimistic that science can save us once again.

So, is there a light at the end of this dark COVID tunnel?? Hopefully we can help answer some of your questions with these vaccine facts:

1. The two current circulating vaccines, made by Pfeizer and Moderna, are mRNA vaccines. These have been researched for YEARS but lacked the funding that they finally got last year to finish production and begin safety trials. A lot of time, research, and scrutiny has been spent on this technology and they are vetted extensively during each step of the trials before being approved 

2. These vaccines CANNOT make you sick with the infection!

3. You may experience some flu-like symptoms as your body builds immunity in case of future attack—these symptoms typically only last for 24-48 hours. The discomfort is definitely worth it to prevent a more severe illness in the future!

4. Until we get HERD immunity, we still need to take necessary precautions to protect ourselves and other around us, so PLEASE continue to wear your masks and wash your hands to prevent spread to our vulnerable populations!

5. For children ages 12-15, vaccine trials are currently under way—since children are not just little adults (even if they seem to be acting like this at times) and they have growing bodies and immune systems, different trials are needed to ensure that the vaccine is safe for them. Unfortunately, this means that it will still be some time before a vaccine is developed for children under the age of 12

BOTTOM LINE!! The PediPals would like to encourage you to please do a few things while we patiently await the ‘end’ of this COVID era.

1.)    Read, understand, and trust the research that is done by accomplished and trusted experts and scientists in the field. 

2.)    Follow along with guidelines and continue to wear masks and take precautions

3.)    Remember that nothing is risk-free. Chances are you will either contract COVID or get the vaccine at some point. Decide which one is right for you (we both got the vaccine)

Oh, and most importantly, FOLLOW @thepedipals on Instagram and stay tuned in with our podcast for more up-to-date information. Stay safe and healthy, friends!

Your PediPals