written by Darren Scoggin, M.D.
As you know, there is a new strain of Coronavirus (COVID-19) which is circulating around the globe. Coronaviruses as a family of viruses are not new, and in fact, most adults have been exposed to a coronavirus in the past. Because COVID-19 is new to our immune systems, it is causing more symptoms in infected people as the virus spreads. The good news is that children seem to not be as prone to catching the virus or having severe symptoms compared to older adults.
COVID-19 is spread by direct contact with infected people. Symptoms can include fever, sore throat, cough, and malaise, along with other non-specific symptoms. Treatment of symptoms in babies includes nasal suctioning, cool mist humidifier, and fever control. Older children may benefit from cough and cold medicines for symptom relief. The best prevention against respiratory viruses such as COVID-19 is proper hygiene and good hand washing.
We are taking care of our patients by following guidance from the CDC and the Mississippi Department of Health as more information becomes known. While testing is not available to individual clinics yet, the Department of Health is coordinating with physicians for the testing of people with suspected infection.
During this season, there are still many other illnesses circulating such as influenza and strep throat which should be evaluated. As always, we have availability for same-day appointments and you can speak to a nurse for an appointment by calling our office (601-362-8776) or requesting an appointment online (childrensmedicalgroup.net). We offer after-hours appointments Monday-Friday until 6:30 PM, and Saturday and Sunday from 8 AM – 5 PM. We are here to take care of our patients and will update as more information about COVID-19 becomes available.
