Protecting the child from illness or injury is the topmost priority of any parent. So, taking precautionary measures regarding contagious diseases like the coronavirus and its variants is imperative, particularly if your child is too young to be vaccinated.
Although COVID-19 symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults and most cases of the virus seem to have less serious health consequences for children, it is nevertheless to avoid infection for their sake and those around them.
Let’s talk about how parents and guardians can help to reduce the risk of their children becoming infected with the coronavirus and where you can go in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida, for comprehensive pediatric care.
8 Ways to Protect Your Child from Covid-19
- Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19. Symptoms similar to the flu include coughing, fever or chills, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, muscle or body aches, sore throat, loss of taste or smell, diarrhea, headache, fatigue, nausea or vomiting, congestion, or runny nose.
- Get all your COVID-19 vaccination shots.Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters as soon as they are eligible, flu shots, and other vaccinations to avoid spreading the virus from one family member to another.
- Adhere to the safety precautions recommended for COVID-19. Wear a mask in public and practice social distancing, especially if COVID-19 cases are at high levels in your area. This can protect you, your child, and others vulnerable to infection.
- Maintain constant hand hygiene.Your child should wash their hands after using the bathroom, when sneezing, coughing, or blowing their nose, before they eat, and immediately after playing outdoors. Get your child in the habit of washing their hands regularly, with soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are unavailable, have them use a hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol. Set an example for your child by washing your own hands frequently.
- Be careful when coughing or sneezing amongst others.Cough or sneeze into your elbow instead of your hands, and encourage your child and family members to do the same. Also, have everyone wash their hands when this occurs and throw away tissues after they are used.
- Teach your child to avoid touching their face as much as possible.One way to do this is by carrying a toy that will keep their hands busy. However, cleanse toys regularly.
- Keep household surfaces clean. Wipe down any that your child regularly touches, especially when you are traveling or near a sick person. Just be sure to store cleaners in cabinets that are either too high for your child to reach or are secured with childproof locks.
- Have your child vaccinated for COVID. Some coronavirus variants are highly contagious, putting unimmunized people at considerable risk of infection. Vaccination reduces the risk of infection and the risk of hospitalization from this and other variants.
Medical experts from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommend COVID-19 vaccines for everyone 6 months and older and boosters for everyone 5 years and older.
If you suspect your child is sick with COVID-19, despite all your efforts to prevent infection, contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner, or urgent care clinic if you don’t have a doctor, and follow their instructions explicitly regarding isolation and testing.
COVID-19 Treatment for Children in Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida
At Children’s Medical Center, we are dedicated to providing premier pediatric healthcare in a nurturing and convenient medical home, especially during the current COVID pandemic. We are currently offering COVID testing for our patients, depending on the availability of testing supplies and medical necessity.
To schedule an appointment with one of our highly trained and compassionate pediatricians in the Tampa/St. Petersburg, Florida area, call one of our convenient locations today.
