More from CRCCS on COVID-19

Today the MN Department of Health released Strategies to Slow the Spread of COVID-19 in Minnesota

The strategies include the statement: “For students with underlying medical conditions* consider implementing individual plans for distance learning or e-learning.” 

Please work with your school, based on your children’s underlying medical condition(s), to decide if they should stay home. The vast majority of our patients have at least one (sometimes more) of the conditions described in the following list. 

*Underlying medical conditions that may increase the risk of serious COVID-19 for individuals of any age: 

• Blood disorders (e.g., sickle cell disease or on blood thinners) 
• Chronic kidney disease as defined by your doctor. Patient has been told to avoid or reduce the dose of medications because kidney disease, or is under treatment for kidney disease, including receiving dialysis 
• Chronic liver disease as defined by your doctor. (e.g., cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis) Patient has been told to avoid or reduce the dose of medications because liver disease or is under treatment for liver disease. 
• Compromised immune system (immunosuppression) (e.g., seeing a doctor for cancer and treatment such as chemotherapy or radiation, received an organ or bone marrow transplant, taking high doses of corticosteroids or other immunosuppressant medications, HIV or AIDS) 
• Current or recent pregnancy in the last two weeks 
• Endocrine disorders (e.g., diabetes mellitus) 
• Metabolic disorders (such as inherited metabolic disorders and mitochondrial disorders) 
• Heart disease (such as congenital heart disease, congestive heart failure, and coronary artery disease) 
• Lung disease including asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (chronic bronchitis or emphysema) or other chronic conditions associated with impaired lung function or that require home oxygen 
• Neurological and neurologic and neurodevelopment conditions [including disorders of the brain, spinal cord, peripheral nerve, and muscle such as cerebral palsy, epilepsy (seizure disorders), stroke, intellectual disability, moderate to severe developmental delay, muscular dystrophy, or spinal cord injury]. 

There is much more to be learned about how the disease impacts children. We will continue to update parents as we learn more. Per the CDC children with confirmed COVID-19 have generally presented with mild symptoms. Reported symptoms in children include cold-like symptoms, such as fever, runny nose, and cough. Vomiting and diarrhea have also been reported. It’s not known yet whether some children may be at higher risk for severe illness, for example, children with underlying medical conditions and special healthcare needs. We recommend following your action plan as you would with any respiratory illness. Be diligent about giving controller/green zone medications. Please do not hesitate to call us if your child becomes sick and you have concerns about your child’s breathing.

In case you missed it, please read our previous post, A note from Children’s Respiratory & Critical Care about COVID-19.

Categorized in: Health