{"id":2404,"date":"2020-03-30T18:15:56","date_gmt":"2020-03-30T10:15:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/?p=2404"},"modified":"2021-12-17T12:27:33","modified_gmt":"2021-12-17T04:27:33","slug":"covid-19-infection-in-children-and-babies","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pacificprime.hk\/blog\/covid-19-infection-in-children-and-babies\/","title":{"rendered":"Covid-19 infection in children and babies"},"content":{"rendered":"

With rates of hospitalization and mortality from novel coronavirus disease increasing worldwide, there is an understandable concern for the general public. Already, the<\/span> coronavirus outbreak is impacting expats in Hong Kong<\/span><\/a> in many ways, and it’s especially troublesome for parents, as <\/span>the schools are closed during the outbreak<\/span><\/a>, and there is still a lot we don\u2019t know about the Covid-19 and infection in children and babies. This article by <\/span>Pacific Prime Hong Kong <\/span><\/a>will answer the commonly asked questions parents and guardians might have about Covid-19 in children and babies.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Family<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n

Are children at higher risk of contracting Covid-19 disease?\u00a0<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to what is known about the novel coronavirus, there is no evidence that children and babies are at a higher risk for contracting Covid-19. There are groups of people who are at higher risk and those groups include older people (over 65 years old), those with underlying health conditions, especially illness related to the respiratory system such as asthma, people with cancer, and people with weakened immune systems. The same concerns children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

An analysis from China has shown that children younger than 10 years old account for <\/span>only 1%<\/span><\/a> of Covid-19 cases in the country. However, infants and young children are generally at high risk for admission to hospital after respiratory tract infection with viruses, for example, influenza virus. Parents should closely monitor their children\u2019s health as well as the whereabouts of hotspots during the spreading Covid-19 outbreak in Hong Kong.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The course of the disease in children<\/span><\/h2>\n

Many people ask if children can be infected with the new virus, and the answer is yes. If there is an apparent outbreak in your nearest community, take all possible precautions but also remain calm, and explain to your children that in most cases, the course of this disease is mild in children.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Children may present with mild symptoms of Covid-19<\/span><\/h3>\n

While the symptoms of the disease are the same in adults as they are in children, it seems that children may present milder symptoms. Reported symptoms in children include symptoms similar to the common cold, such as fever, runny nose, and cough, vomiting, and diarrhea.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s not known yet whether children with underlying conditions may be at higher risk for severe illness, however, parents of kids suffering from asthma, obesity, diabetes, and\/or different forms of lung diseases should be especially vigilant.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What to do if my child is infected?<\/span><\/h3>\n

If you suspect your child to be infected, call your nearest general practitioner and arrange a visit. If your child is tested positive, it might either be advised to stay at home and take medication there or will be admitted to one of Hong Kong\u2019s public hospitals for further treatment and isolation. Your entire family will most likely take a virus test and will be asked to self-quarantine for 14 days.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\"Cost<\/a><\/p><\/div>\n\n

How can I protect my child from getting infected with Covid-19?<\/span><\/h2>\n

You can encourage your child to help stop the spread of Covid-19 by teaching them to do the same thing everyone should be doing to stay healthy. Here are some of the things you can teach your child to do now to protect against contracting the infection:<\/span><\/p>\n