There’s an ever-growing amount of documentation covering the potential risks of COVID-19 to you and your family. The joint efforts of a worldwide body of public health officials and scientists continue to produce information on the SARS-CoV-2 virus. These efforts have been instrumental in producing effective methods of avoiding and treating the condition. However, the more we learn, the more questions there are to answer. One of the most imminent concerns has been the effect of COVID-19 on children and what steps you can take to ensure your family is protected.
How To Respond To COVID-19 In Children
There have been some irregularities in how children appear to respond to COVID-19. Some of these irregularities suggest that children may be less likely to contract COVID-19 than their adult counterparts. While this idea is still the subject of ongoing study, one thing has become clear. Children are more likely to contract and carry COVID-19 without presenting with symptoms. These children are described as being ‘asymptomatic,’ meaning without symptoms. Current knowledge indicates that children with the virus often experience less severe symptoms from the infection. However, even if they aren’t presenting with symptoms, children with COVID-19 are perfectly capable of transmitting their disease to others. You should have your children checked for this disease regularly. You should also follow these tips:
- Maintain social distancing and wearing a mask outside your home
- Have all family members practice frequent and thorough handwashing, no less than 20 seconds.
- Ensure all members of your family are vaccinated and have all the booster shots advised by medical professionals.
It’s clear to everyone now that COVID-19 has a propensity to mutate rapidly. The constant appearance of new variants, or strains, makes keeping the disease at bay difficult. One concerning part of these variants is their enhanced ability to fit into receptors found on the cell’s surface. This is thought to contribute to their high rate of contagion when compared to earlier strains. While being more contagious, it is worth mentioning that they aren’t any more deadly than previous strains.
Thankfully the vaccines that are available have been shown to be equally effective against the current strains. Additionally, the safety measures of masking and social distancing are still proving effective against these strains. Following the above tips remain an essential part of protecting your loved ones from COVID-19.
As of this article’s release, those over five years of age are able to be vaccinated against COVID-19. Ongoing research suggests that earlier vaccination may be possible in the future.
Contact Your Physician To Learn More About COVID-19
If you’re concerned about the potential risk of COVID-19 to your children, speak to your physician. They’ll be able to arm you with the latest information about the disease and what to do if they contract it. The good news is that the larger portion of children who contract this disease recover from it without lasting effect. Regardless, it’s essential that you maintain the proper protocols to avoid having your children become infected. Even if they recover, they may pass it to more vulnerable family members.
