Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) Outbreak

What is Coronavirus/COVID-19?

COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Symptoms can range from mild (or even no symptoms) to severe. Adults and older people with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic respiratory disease are more likely to develop serious illness, while children tend to develop milder illness. Researchers are learning more and more about how to prevent and treat COVID-19 every day.

Coronavirus/COVID-19 FAQ

What are the symptoms of coronavirus?

The symptoms of COVID-19 are different for everyone but may include:

fever
sore throat
cough
shortness of breath
fatigue
body aches
loss of taste and/or smell

For some people, the symptoms may feel like a bad cold or flu. Others, especially adults with other health conditions, may have severe respiratory symptoms that could progress to pneumonia. Some patients require hospitalization and breathing assistance.

In addition, if your child exhibits any of the symptoms that could be related to multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (see below), always call your pediatrician.

Learn more about COVID-19 symptoms.

How serious is coronavirus/COVID-19?

While some people with COVID-19 have only mild cases of this illness, others are becoming ill, and many have died. Older adults and those with pre-existing health problems (such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer) are at increased risk of getting very sick.

The majority of children with COVID-19 tend to have milder symptoms. However, there have recently been some reports of a rare but serious illnesses in children called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This illness looks similar to a syndrome called Kawasaki disease and is believed to be related to COVID-19.

How can I protect my family from the new coronavirus?

While we are still learning more about how COVID-19 is passed from one person to another, public health experts believe that tiny droplets containing the virus are released in the air when an infected person coughs, sneezes, or even talks. This is why the illness is spreading so easily in some communities.

To help slow the spread, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is asking everyone to take some important steps, including:

Stay home: The governors of New York, Connecticut, New Jersey, and many other states have called on all residents who are not essential workers (such as people working in hospitals, pharmacies, and grocery stores) to stay at home, working and participating in school remotely. State websites have specific information on who are essential and non-essential workers.
Practice physical distancing: If you must leave your house, it’s important to stay six feet or more away from others to minimize the spread of germs.
Cover your mouth and nose: The CDC is now recommending people use a cloth face covering over their mouth and nose if they go out in public at all and effective April 17th the governor of New York began requiring people to wear face coverings. This is important since not everyone with COVID-19 has symptoms. As a result, some people who don’t feel sick may still carry the germs and spread them to others through droplets released into the air.
Act preventively by following proper hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene. Also, avoid touching your face.

How do I avoid making others sick?

If your child (or anyone else in your family) has any symptoms, you’ll need to stay at home and avoid being around other people. If possible, keep your child in a room where they won’t have contact with other family members or use common household items. Many grocery stores, restaurants, and pharmacies are now offering contactless deliveries.

Is there a cure for COVID-19?

There is currently no approved treatment to treat COVID-19. But there are some experimental medications and approaches being tested across the country that could offer real hope in the very near future. Scientists are also working on a vaccine to help prevent people from getting sick.

Where can I get the latest information about COVID-19?

The new coronavirus outbreak is a rapidly changing situation. The CDC COVID-19 website offers the most up-to-date information.

The New York State Health Department website also has state-specific information about COVID-19 and links to many helpful resources for families. For specific questions about your child, contact your doctor's office.

How can I help my children cope with the stress of COVID-19?

During this challenging time, children and parents may be feeling a lot of stress. Learn how to cope with the stresses caused by changes to your daily routine, worries about your health and well-being, and worries about the health of family members. Learn more here!

Reopening

We are reopening!

As our communities move toward phases of re-opening, we want you to know that our offices at Boston Children’s Health Physicians are open, safe, and ready to care for the health of your child and your family.

Since well visits including vaccines and routine developmental milestone assessments are essential to your child’s wellbeing, it’s important to prioritize these and other health care needs. If your child is due for a visit, please be sure to contact your pediatrician’s office as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. We are going to great lengths to ensure the safety of our patients, employees, and their families in every encounter.

You will be able to confidently access care from our providers either from the comfort of your home via a virtual visit or in person at one of our offices.

New office guidelines

For in-office visits, we have made a number changes to increase safety and respond to the “new normal,” including:

Once you’ve scheduled an appointment, we will call you to go over our check-in process, which may include asking you to call the office when you arrive in the parking lot for triaging and screening for COVID-19 symptoms. This will minimize the time spent in the office setting.
Our offices have adjusted their hours of operation and schedule templates. Sick and well-visits will be seen at different times of the day. This structure allows for empty waiting rooms and appropriate cleaning and disinfecting to take place.
Only one family member or caregiver should accompany patients to their appointment.
Our employees are wearing medical masks and heightened personal protective equipment.
All adults and children over the age of 2 who enter a BCHP office will be required to wear a face-covering and have their temperature taken.
Physical barriers will be present at all reception desks.
Toys, reading materials, and other communal objects will be removed from waiting areas.
Diligent cleaning of medical equipment, doorknobs, counters, bathrooms, etc. will take place frequently throughout the day.

Contact your physician’s office to learn more or to schedule an appointment.

SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing

Should children get SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing?

Many families would like to know if their child has been exposed to SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19. Antibody testing, also called serology testing, is a simple blood test that can determine if antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 are present in the blood. Antibodies develop usually weeks after the body has been exposed to the virus so antibody testing is not a test for active infection.

Although antibody tests are currently available through many commercial laboratories, at this time BCHP does not recommend routine antibody testing for all patients. There are a number of reasons for this decision, including:

Since COVID-19 is such a new illness, we don’t yet know if the antibodies will protect a child from getting COVID-19 again. For some illnesses, antibodies offer life-long protection, however, in other cases, antibodies offer only limited protection, or even no protection, against future infection.
If the antibodies do offer protection, it is also unknown how long that protection will last.
There are many misleading results from antibody tests for COVID-19. A negative test does not rule out past infection, and a positive test does not mean that a child is immune to COVID-19. Essentially, neither a positive test or a negative test will change behavior recommendations.

Despite all of these challenges, there are still certain circumstances where pediatricians may recommend antibody testing on a case by case basis so be sure to talk to your pediatrician if you have questions about it. Regardless of whether your child has testing or not, it’s important to take steps to protect yourself and your family. Be sure to follow social distance guidelines and practice hand hygiene and coughing and sneezing etiquette.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C)

What is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome?

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is a serious illness related to COVID-19 that has been seen in a small number of children. It affects a number of organs, including the heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, gastrointestinal system, skin, and eyes.

What are the most common symptoms?

The most common symptoms of this disease include persistent fevers, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, headaches, and swollen hands and feet. However, it is important to note that this condition may present differently in each child.

Always call your pediatrician if you notice these symptoms or have any concerns.

Multisystem inflammatory syndrome can be life threatening if it is not addressed promptly. Children with this condition will likely need to be treated in the hospital. With prompt care, most children will recover well. Doctors are still trying to learn more about this condition, why it occurs, and who is at highest risk.

What should I do if my child has symptoms of COVID-19?

At Boston Children’s Health Physicians, we are following all of the state and federal guidelines to ensure the safety of our patients and staff.

If you suspect your child has COVID-19, call your pediatrician’s office for advice. Many of our clinicians are now seeing patients remotely through virtual or telehealth visits (these are visits done right from your home) whenever possible to avoid the spread of germs in our facilities. Your doctor will decide if a COVID-19 test is necessary and if so, will tell you how to proceed with testing.

A virtual visit, which can be done using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, can also be an appropriate option for diagnosing colds, flus, allergies, and other health concerns, as well as managing chronic conditions and prescription refills.

For complex or urgent needs that require a face-to-face visit, we continue to have staff available for in-person appointments. We are following the latest safety practices to ensure our waiting and exam rooms are free from germs. We are also strictly limiting the number of patients we see in person as part of our commitment to physical distancing. For patients scheduled for non-urgent procedures or exams, check with your physician to reschedule.