COVID-19 – what a pediatrician should know Review article

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Published: Mar 31, 2020
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24292/01.MF.0120.2
Keywords:
COVID-19, coronavirus, children, diagnostics, treatment

Main Article Content

Adam J. Sybilski
1. II Klinika Pediatrii, Centrum Medyczne Kształcenia Podyplomowego w Warszawie. 2. Klinika Chorób Dziecięcych i Noworodkowych, Centralny Szpital Kliniczny MSWiA w Warszawie

Abstract

In December 2019, the first cases of acute respiratory disease (Coronavirus disease 2019 – COVID-19) caused by the new coronavirus strain (SARS-CoV-2) appeared in Wuhan, China. In March 2020, WHO officially announced the COVID-19 pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 (also called HCoV-19) compared to other coronaviruses is less virulent with much lower mortality rates, but much more infectious, also in the asymptomatic period.


Most infected children have mild clinical symptoms, no fever or signs of pneumonia or appear asymptomatic. Sometimes there is fever, dry cough and fatigue, sometimes there are symptoms from the upper respiratory tract, including nasal congestion and runny nose. Some patients have experienced gastrointestinal symptoms, including abdominal discomfort, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea. All patients with suspected coronavirus infection must have a SARSCoV-2 PCR test (nasopharyngeal swab).


Depending on the severity of the symptoms, symptomatic medications (paracetamol or ibuprofen), azithromycin (3-days treatment) and chloroquine (arechine) are used in therapy. To minimize the likelihood of infection, always use personal protective equipment and specially prepare your doctor’s office.


Knowledge about the SARS-CoV-2 virus and COVID-19 disease is constantly growing, and the recommendations often change, so pediatricians need to be up to date and adapt their activities to changing medical knowledge and epidemiological situations.

Article Details

How to Cite
Sybilski, A. J. (2020). COVID-19 – what a pediatrician should know. Medycyna Faktow (J EBM), 13(1(46), 18-25. https://doi.org/10.24292/01.MF.0120.2
Issue
Vol 13 No 1(46) (2020)
Section
Articles

Copyright © by Medical Education. All rights reserved.

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