How do parents keep children with special health care needs safe during the pandemic?

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by Dr. Dennis Z. Kuo and Cara Coleman

down syndrome
Credit history: CC0 General public Area

Q: My son has a chronic health care situation and I fear about him now that mask mandates are currently being lifted. How can I retain him secure?

A: Small children and youth with exclusive wellness care requires have serious bodily, developmental, behavioral or psychological circumstances, disabilities and medically intricate conditions. These can put them at danger for far more significant health issues and complications from COVID-19.

The degree of neighborhood transmission is still the most significant driver of risk for kids with distinctive health treatment wants. When there are higher levels of local community transmission, a lot more ranges of protection need to be saved in location. These layers of safety consist of:&#13
&#13—COVID-19 vaccines (and boosters): All qualified little ones and grown ups, specially individuals who have speak to with kids with exclusive overall health treatment needs, ought to get them. This contains loved ones users, family contacts, wellness treatment employees and education personnel. Some youngsters age 5 yrs and older who received two COVID-19 vaccine doses and have weakened immune devices should really get a third dose of the vaccine. Some young ones age 12-17 yrs with weakened immune devices ought to get a booster dose following the third dose.&#13
&#13—All proposed immunizations: Little ones and youth with distinctive wellness care demands also need to continue to be up to date on all recommended vaccines. The flu shot for anyone ages 6 months and more mature is specially critical all through the pandemic to shield little ones who are at an improved risk for influenza complications.&#13
&#13—Masks and other individual protective products: Certain children with special health care demands who have situations that place them at higher possibility for significant illness with SARS-CoV-2 infection, as effectively as their family members and caregivers, may need the sort of personal protective gear utilized by well being care personnel, these kinds of as N95 respirators and eye security. Converse with your pediatrician about no matter if particular protective gear might be wanted. There are pretty couple of clinical situations that would protect against children ages 2 several years and more mature from wearing face masks that entirely cover the nose and mouth. The greatest security is presented by well-fitting N95/K95/KF94 masks, followed by well-fitting surgical/method masks. Cloth encounter masks are fewer powerful in opposition to the omicron variant. Finding fantastic protection from a encounter mask might choose additional focus for a youngster or teenager who has a craniofacial condition.&#13
&#13—Safer spaces: Avoid the 3 Cs: closed spaces, crowded places (inside and out) and near contact. These can spread respiratory droplets and viruses.&#13
&#13—Screening: COVID-19 exams can be a beneficial resource for care providers who are in shut call with your boy or girl and can supply another layer of security. Persons who may well need to examination more typically include things like household care companies, baby treatment companies, instructors and therapists.

Spouse with your pediatrician to assistance navigate discussions with treatment suppliers about COVID-19 vaccination standing and use of experience masks.&#13
&#13—Hands and surfaces: Hand washing and cleaning surfaces, specifically in shared spaces and with shared objects, also support safeguard your kid. If your kid is attending college, therapies or other pursuits in particular person, have conversations to make sure floor cleansing and hand washing are part of the system and what supplies will be available. These levels of protection can be created into your child’s individualized education and learning application (IEP) or 504 prepare if required, with support from your child’s pediatrician.

As faculty districts, sports activities groups and local community routines adjust their policies about masks and bodily distancing, it can be difficult to be certain your youngster is ready to proceed with, and is supported in making use of, the levels of defense important to shield their wellness. Function with your pediatrician and school to build designs that permit your boy or girl to proceed to dress in masks, for case in point, in their classroom in a way that makes sure their security and does not solitary them out.

Contemplate including techniques to make certain your little one is secure and supported in layering protections these as these in their 504 or IEP program.

Inquire your pediatrician to aid establish a program in case your kid or a domestic member is exposed, contaminated or hospitalized with COVID-19. The prepare ought to involve data on accessing antiviral therapy or monoclonal antibodies if out there and suitable. People really should share this information with their kid’s university.

If your baby has frequent and several service provider visits, talk to your pediatrician and professionals to system out a timetable to frequently look at in and evaluate requirements. Talk to which visits can be completed just about and which will need to be in individual, as nicely as what is covered by insurance plan.


Question the Pediatrician: Do little ones who have had COVID continue to need the vaccine?


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Citation:
Check with the Pediatrician: How do mothers and fathers continue to keep little ones with unique overall health care needs secure throughout the pandemic? (2022, April 11)
retrieved 17 April 2022
from https://medicalxpress.com/information/2022-04-pediatrician-moms and dads-young children-particular-health.html

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