Video about caring for your child with COVID-19
Caring for your child with COVID-19.
Source: Starship
transcribeTranscript
I'm Emily, one of the doctors here at Starship Children's Emergency Department. We think that it's likely that your child has COVID-19. While I understand that this is a worrying time for you, we know that most children with COVID-19 will have a mild illness.
The common symptoms that they will have include:
- a runny nose
- a cough
- fever
- headache
They may not want to eat and drink as much as normal, or be more tired.
They also can have symptoms of:
- vomiting
- diarrhea
- tummy pain and
- muscle aches
Over the coming days, it's important that you keep an eye on what your child is eating and drinking. They may not want to eat as much as normal and this is OK as long as they're still drinking well. It's fine for them to continue to have whatever it is your family normally eats and if you're struggling to get fluid in. ½ apple juice, ½ water is often a good substitute.
Because COVID-19 is a viral infection, we know that antibiotics don't treat this. For children who are usually well and have a mild infection, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19.
Paracetamol and ibuprofen can be useful medicines to help your child if they are uncomfortable or distressed. Ibuprofen is best taken with food and you can have that up to 3 times a day. Paracetamol can be taken up to 4 times a day and can be taken on an empty tummy. You can take both paracetamol and ibuprofen together or alternate them.
If your child is well and happy with their fever, they do not need specific treatment with paracetamol or ibuprofen.
It's common for COVID-19 to spread within your household and your whānau. Ways that you can help minimise the spread include regular hand washing and the use of hand sanitiser. If your child is comfortable wearing a mask, then this can also help minimise spread.
Over the coming days when you're at home …
- if you're worried that your child is becoming more unwell
- if they're not eating and drinking as much as normal and are tired or sleepy
- if you're worried that they're breathing fast or breathing hard
- if they have fever for more than 5 days
- if they have severe chest pain, tummy pain, or headache that is not responding to simple pain relief
- or if you're worried about them
… then please book in to see your GP or come back and see us in the Emergency Department.
You may also have heard of long COVID. If your child has symptoms lasting for more than 2 weeks, it's important that you get them medically assessed again at this time. And this can be through your GP or with us here in the Emergency Department.
Finally, if you're worried that your child is becoming very unwell, you can always call an ambulance at any time and we're here in the Emergency Department, ready to see you.
We also have some written advice sheets for you to take home.
So just remember, while it seems worrying at this time, we know that COVID-19 is a mild illness in most children.
Keep their fluids up, paracetamol and ibuprofen if they're uncomfortable or distressed, and if you're worried about them, please come back and see us.
Symptoms of COVID-19
If tamariki do catch COVID-19, they mostly have mild symptoms or they may have no symptoms at all.
Common symptoms of COVID-19 are like those found with other illnesses such as colds and flu.
They can include:
- cough
- sneezing and runny nose
- fever
- headache
- tiredness, feeling generally unwell
- sore, scratchy throat
- shortness of breath
Symptoms of COVID-19 may also include:
- diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting, particularly in pēpi (babies) and young tamariki
- tummy pain
- muscle aches
- wheezing
- croup-like illness
- loss of taste or smell
What to do if your child is COVID-19 positive
If your child is COVID-19 positive, watch the video above for advice. Some of the information in the video is also repeated below.
Make sure they are drinking well
It's important to keep an eye on what your child is eating and drinking. They might not want to eat as much as usual.
Encourage them to drink fluids - you can try giving them ½ apple juice with ½ water, or ice blocks if they are struggling to get fluids in.
How to help your child with COVID-19
COVID-19 is viral so antibiotics don't work. For tamariki who are usually well and have a mild infection, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19.
If they are well and happy with a fever, they do not need specific treatment.
To treat a fever, undress your child so they are just wearing a single layer and make sure the room is not too hot or too cold. These are the best and most comfortable ways to bring your child's temperature down. It's best not to give your child a bath or shower to cool them. You could use a cool face cloth.
Your child may need extra rest or they may want to play - this is OK.
Medicine
Paracetamol
If your child is miserable because of the fever, you can give paracetamol to make them more comfortable. You must follow the dosage instructions on the bottle. It is dangerous to give more than the recommended dose.
Safe Use Of Paracetamol In Children
Other medicine
If a health professional gives your child ibuprofen, use it only if your child with a fever is miserable.
Don't give your child cold and flu medicines.
Never give your child aspirin as this may increase the risk of Reye syndrome, which is a rare and serious illness.
Minimising the spread of COVID-19 within your household
It is common for COVID-19 to spread within a household to family and whānau members.
There are some things you can do to help minimise the spread:
- regular handwashing or hand sanitising
- your child can wear a mask if they're comfortable with this
When to get medical help for your child with COVID-19
If your child becomes very unwell, call 111 within New Zealand (use the appropriate emergency number in other countries) and ask for urgent medical help.
Contact a health professional or go to the emergency department if your child becomes more unwell or:
- has difficulty breathing
- is drinking less than half their normal amount of fluids
- is very tired or lethargic
- still has a fever after 5 days
- has severe chest or tummy pain or
- has a headache that is not helped by simple pain relief
- you are worried about them
Check the signs that show your child is struggling to breathe.
Signs That Children Are Struggling To Breathe
Supporting your child while they recover from COVID-19
For most tamariki with mild COVID, they will be back to normal within a week. A small number of tamariki might take up to 2 weeks to feel back to normal.
Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
Encourage them to eat and drink normally.
You don't need to restrict your child from doing activities they feel like doing. Be guided by them.
