Sending children to school but still worried about them getting Covid: Doctor suggests how to take care of them

04/05/2022 08:35 GMT+7

Nguyen Thi Ly (Ba Dinh, Hanoi) said that although her two children have not yet contracted Covid-19, she still wants them to go to school for a long time. Because, at home, other than studying online, they don’t know what to do, they only know how to play on the phone.

Although looking forward to the day her children go to school, Ms. Cao Thi Hoa (Thanh Xuan, Hanoi) is still worried because her child “weak lungs” if unfortunately contracting Covid-19 will be dangerous. Ms. Hoa said that her son is in grade 1, he has a history of premature birth. Even though he is an adult, he still sometimes gets pneumonia. Therefore, Hoa is still a little worried when her children go to school without being vaccinated.

According to Dr. Truong Huu Khanh – Vice President of Ho Chi Minh City Infectious Diseases Association, former head of Infection Department, Children’s Hospital 1, Ho Chi Minh City Children need to go to school. If you are late to school, it will affect your child’s development. Children need a learning environment, communicating with peers. Therefore, it is necessary and important for children to return to school.

“If we talk about children, then get them vaccinated. If we say that because children go to school, they can be a source of infection for adults, then adults should take care of vaccinations, even the elderly and have underlying diseases, there is no other way,” said Dr. Khanh.

If children unfortunately become F0, they also need to calm down, because most children with Covid-19 are milder than dengue fever, viral fever, hand, foot and mouth … much milder than many other common illnesses in children.

Illustration.

If someone in the family has F0, parents need to notify the school immediately. When children show signs of heat, cough, runny nose, etc., they should also stay at home to monitor and seek medical attention. But if there are 2 or more people in the house with similar symptoms at the same time, the possibility of Covid-19 is high, then testing is needed, not mass testing. Children going to school do not need to wear goggles.

The Center for Disease Control of Ho Chi Minh City and the Mayo Clinic Health System, USA recommend wearing masks, for preschool children, parents need to wear masks for themselves and their children when taking their children to and from school. home, or when taking public transport.

Primary and secondary school students need to wear masks when coming to school, in class (recommended), when leaving and when necessary. Wearing a mask is especially noticeable in places where it is difficult to maintain a distance, such as on buses, trains…

Prepare many spare clean masks. Parents should instruct children to put the mask in a clean zippered bag when they are not using it, or make a label on the child’s mask so as not to be confused with another child’s mask.

Parents guide children to practice properly putting on and taking off masks, avoiding touching the outer fabric parts. Remind your children to wash their hands before and after touching the mask, not to share, share, or exchange masks with others, talk to them about the importance of wearing masks.

Note not to wear masks for children under two years old, children with respiratory problems… Parents need to supplement with nutrients and maintain gentle exercise for children to improve resistance. Diet full of vitamin C, fiber, protein and adequate water.

Let children eat on time, get enough sleep and maintain proper hygiene habits when at school and home, ensuring their health so that children can learn at their best during the new normal.

Khanh Chi