Always keep away the child from the elderly, pregnant women and other children

Many children have tested positive, in the second wave of COVID-19, which was not the case last year. As such, given the emergency, Dr Rachna Sharma, senior consultant, Paediatric Intensive Care & Pulmonology, BLK-MAX Super Speciality Hospital has shared an advisory on what can be done to help Covid-positive children at home, and prevent the spread of the virus.

Guidelines for COVID-19 positive children:

» Keep the child in a well-ventilated room with an attached toilet.
» Always keep away the child from the elderly, pregnant women and other children.
» Assign a dedicated caregiver.
» Keep them well-hydrated.
» Newborns can be breastfed after the mother observes a hand hygiene routine, and wears a mask.
» If required, COVID-19 positive mother can give expressed milk to the child via the caregiver.
» No social gatherings or visitors should be allowed in the house.
» Dedicated linen and eating utensils should be used for the child and kept separately.

Guidelines for caregivers:

» Wear surgical masks at all times and change every 6-8 hours.
» Avoid direct contact with the body fluid of the infected child - oral or respiratory secretions and stool.
» Use disposable gloves and a mask to handle soiled linen or body fluids.
» Clean and disinfect frequently-touched surfaces such as toilet or furniture in the room. Clean using household bleach or 1% hypochlorite.
» Clean the patient’s clothes, linen, and towels, by using a regular detergent in hot water or a machine wash at 60-90°C.

Hand hygiene guidelines:

» Diligently follow hand hygiene measures.
» Practice hand hygiene before and after removal of gloves and mask.
» Clean visibly dirty hands with soap and water.
» Use alcohol-based hand rub frequently.
» Use disposable paper towels for hand drying. Alternatively, use clean cloth towels. Replace frequently.
» Dispose gloves, masks, and other waste in a waste bin with a lid.