NOVEL CORONAVIRUS: WHAT SHOULD YOU DO TO PROTECT YOUR CHILDREN?

The pneumonia outbreak caused by the new coronavirus (COVID-19) is developing in a complicated way with new cases reported continuously. Children are classified as a special group who have high risk of contracting the virus due to weakened immune system and lack of awareness of self-protection. 
 

Precautionary measures are recommended to protect your children. So what should you do? Guide your children to take following measures:

 

- Frequently wash their hands with soap and water in at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use alcohol-based hand rub. 

- Keep your children away from persons who are infected or on suspicion of infection. 

- Limit their time of visiting crowded places. 

- Teach them to use their arm or elbow (not their hands) when coughing and sneezing to minimize the spread of respiratory fluid.
- Clean and disinfect your home, your children’s toys. 

-Remind your children to wear medical face masks in crowds. 

- Avoid travelling to infected areas. 

 

If your children have symptoms that link to the Corona virus such as coughing, high temperature, hard breathing, they must be isolated and taken to the nearest medical facility for consultation, examination and treatment.
 

The medical team of the American International Hospital (AIH) is placed on standby for any situation that can happen. Necessary items including medical face masks, sanitizers are always available in the hospital. 

 

Remarkably, there are screening areas in pediatric and outpatient clinics to separate patients with respiratory issues from the rest and minimize infection. 

 

At AIH, for the purpose of preventing cross-infection, the pediatric clinic is properly designed and divided into two separate areas: area for symptomatic children and area for well children. Children with suspected symptoms will be quickly removed from common waiting area and placed in a separate examination room on arrival.