Press Release
How to Care for Pediatric Patients with COVID-19 from Home
- Date : 2022-03-17
- Hit : 769
How to Care for Pediatric Patients with COVID-19 from Home
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PRESS RELEASE
Mar 8, 2022
The Central Disaster Management Headquarters (headed by Minister of Health and Welfare Kwon Deok-cheol) produced and distributed “Guidelines on Medical Care for Pediatric Patients with COVID-19” to ensure seamless contact-free patient care at community hospitals/clinics and “FAQ for Caregivers” to help parents/caregivers effectively deal with pediatric infection.
With the number of pediatric patients placed under at-home treatment on a continued increase, many parents/caregivers have been asking questions about how to remain prepared for symptoms displayed by children in an unexpected manner.
The guidelines and FAQ distributed are designed to help community hospitals/clinics and parents/caregivers effectively respond to pediatric infection in close cooperation with the Korean Pediatric Society, Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, and various pediatric infection specialists.
Major details of the guidelines and FAQ are as follows.
The guidelines specify clinical traits of different age groups and treatment options for various symptoms from fever/chills to dehydration, respiratory system abnormality, and spasms.
The guidelines also highlight the signs of conditions that immediately require face-to-face examinations or emergency responses.
The FAQ illustrates actions to be taken for individual symptoms that may be displayed by children during at-home treatment.
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Actions to be taken for different symptoms displayed by pediatric patients under at-home treatment ① (High fever) Drink plenty of fluids and take 2 types of fever reducers alternately. As a fever due to COVID-19 is mostly treated after 2-3 days, follow the physician’s instruction and monitor the result. ② (Shortness of breath) When the throat is severely irritated and swollen, it can lead to hoarseness and difficulty breathing. Record the patient’s sound of breathing, etc., for the physician to refer to for consultation. Immediately seek the help with 119, etc., when detecting any signs of shortness of breath (nasal flaring, intercostal retractions, stridor, etc.). ③ (Ear pain) Ear pain is mostly related with a sore throat and nasal congestion and rarely results from otitis media in patients with COVID-19. As such, it is recommended to treat it with antipyretic analgesics (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, etc.) instead of antibiotics. ④ (Nosebleed) Severe nasal congestion can lead to inflammation and edema and cause a nosebleed. A nosebleed can be stopped at home through simple treatment. It is recommended to receive contact-free consultations and prescriptions for nasal congestion. ⑤ (Stomachache/vomiting/diarrhea) If stomach pain is felt around the navel or solar plexus and the abdominal area feels tender, it may be the condition of enteritis. Treat pain with antipyretic analgesics, provide plenty of fluids, and seek consultations if necessary. ⑥ (Signs of conditions that require face-to-face examinations) Body temperature of 38°C or higher for more than 72 hours, spasms, shortness of breath, drastic decrease in food intake and urine by over half for more than 24 hours, severe abdominal pain and chest pain, unconsciousness, etc. |
FAQ for Caregivers of Pediatric COVID-19 Patients will also be made available in various forms of content.
Pediatric patients who tested positive may receive telephone consultations and prescriptions at children’s hospitals of their choice when necessary. Around-the-clock consultations are also available at the contact-free pediatric care counseling centers (100 locations).
The list of the hospitals/clinics can be viewed by searching “hospital and clinics offering telephone consultations for COVID-19” on Naver and Daum or on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service website (www.hira.or.kr).
Face-to-face consultations for pediatric patients are offered at 47 locations of the outpatient centers for patients under at-home treatment, while both outpatient services and hospitalized treatment are available at 62 hub hospitals dedicated to pediatric patients (as of Mar. 8).
The list of the hub hospitals dedicated to pediatric patients with COVID-19, outpatient centers offering face-to-face consultations for pediatric patients, and contact-free pediatric care counseling centers can be viewed on the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service website (hira.or.kr), etc.
Jeong Eun-yeong, Director of the At-Home Treatment Team of the Central Disaster Management Headquarters said, “The distribution of the guidelines and FAQ is expected to elicit a more active participation of hospitals/clinics in contact-free medical care for pediatric patients and relieve anxiety of parents/caregivers taking care of pediatric patients at home.”
// For inquiries, contact Media Relations, Ministry of Health and Welfare
http://www.mohw.go.kr/react/al/sal0301vw.jsp?PAR_MENU_ID=04&MENU_ID=0403&page=2&CONT_SEQ=370529
