Dr. Saroja Balan
Studies since then have shown that it is likely to affect older men with comorbidities, and only a few infections were seen in children. It mainly happened in family clusters.
Dr. Saroja Balan
Becoming a parent can be both exciting and terrifying. You will have a million questions from how to prepare for the birth to what to expect in terms of growth and what vaccines the baby needs, particularly in the times of the Covid-19 pandemic. Cutting through the helpful advice from family, friends and the internet, neonatologist Dr Saroja Balan answers frequently asked questions, helps you figure out things on your own and tells you when to see a doctor in her just released book, It’s Your Baby. Here are the excerpts from the book:
Since 8 December 2019, an epidemic of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has spread rapidly across the world.
Studies since then have shown that it is likely to affect older men with comorbidities, and only a few infections were seen in children. It mainly happened in family clusters. One study from China found that out of 9 children affected and admitted in a hospital, 7 were female.
Children of all ages can get affected with Covid, but all those who get infected don’t show any symptoms of illness.
Scientists are still not sure why children react differently from adults. Some experts feel it may be due to other coronaviruses that spread through the community and produce common cold in children, and since children get frequent colds, their immune systems may be primed to provide them some protection again Covid-19. Another possibility is that children’s immune system interacts with the virus differently in comparison to adults’.
Newborns can get affected with Covid-19 during childbirth or after delivery, from a sick caregiver. If you develop Covid-19 prior to delivery or are waiting for the test results, you can feed the baby wearing a mask and make sure you wash your hands frequently. You can keep a 6 feet distance with your baby at other times. When these steps are taken, the chances of the baby getting Covid are very small. Research shows that only 2% to 5% of infants were infected from mothers who tested positive just prior to delivery.
However, if the mother is severely ill with corona, she may need to be temporarily separated from the baby. Babies who test positive but are not symptomatic can be sent home with instructions that the caregivers frequently wash hands and wear a mask to protect themselves. They should be in frequent touch with the paediatrician through virtual consultations. Similarly, since infants less than 2 years cannot wear masks, they need specific protective measures. Adult caregivers should wash hands, wear masks, sterilise toys and clean tableware regularly.
If you suspect your baby may have Covid, call your paediatrician and keep the baby at home. If possible, keep the baby in a separate room. Your paediatrician will decide about doing a test for Covid. A nasopharyngeal swab is taken from the back of the nose and it usually takes 24 hours to get the report.
MIS-C is a serious condition in which some parts of the body, such as the heart, kidney, lungs, blood vessels, digestive system, brain, eyes and skin, get inflamed. The presence of Covid-19 antibodies in these children reveals a past Covid-19 infection, suggesting an immune system reaction against Covid
Most of you reading this book must be well aware about all the precautions one needs to take but here they are again. The CDC and WHO recommend that you and your family follow these precaution: