Question

1.How does caring for a child with a chronic condition look in the clinical setting during COVID-19  pandemic? What needs to be considered and why?

Please write two paragraphs answering the above question. Include credible citations.Thank you

Answer 1

• ANSWER 1: Child with chronic conditions such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, immunocompromised disease condition, serious heart disease, type 2 diabetes mellitus, etc. With such condition, it is more complex and difficult to do care of child during COVID 19 pandemic. The comorbid condition makes child immune system weaker and more susceptible to COVID.
• The knowledge and information about COVID is limited but its impact on medical condition is severe.
• Child with chronic conditions such as heart disease, congenital disease, chronic disease, genetic disorder might be at more or higher risk for severe illness from covid19 compared to other children.
• It makes more difficult care for a child with a chronic conditions.
• Children are more easy to spread disease and infection in home care settings even they are more easy to get the infection from others.

CONSIDERATIONS WHILE TAKING A CARE OF CHILD :

• More conscious about caring a child with comorbid disease condition and COVID infection. They are more susceptible to get disease.
• More difficult to handle their condition, therefore more social distancing should be focussed.
• More use of mask, even encourage children to wear mask and do hand washing regularly.
• children with comorbid medical conditions and with COVID infection are more at risk of developing multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Therefore, children should be advised to stay at home, study at home regularly and play at home.
• But mask should not be put on children under 2 years of age, it may cause suffocation and breathing difficulties.
• Cleaning should be done of surfaces of home settings by proper disinfectant as children more prone to touch the surface, even they take fingers in their mouth.
• Follow the guidelines of your local health department, when caring a child with other health condition during COVID pandemic.
• According to some reasech, dexamethasone has some beneficial effects during caring a child with respiratory infection.
• Up to date immunization and vaccination schedule is also necessary.
• All newborn with medical condition should be weighed regularly, discharge with effective pla, make a schedule for feeding, check for dehydration and jaundice and evaluate for maternal well being.
• limit the visiting to hospital with child, more preference to telemedicine.