Concerns about Children & COVID-19, plus guidelines for staying healthy coming out of quarantine

COVID-19 & Concerns About Your Children

We at PIP are aware of the reports about the possible association between COVID-19 and “pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome” and are watching for further information. At this time, there have been no reported associations between this type of illness and COVID-19 in Colorado. Of note, Kawasaki disease (which is quite similar to what’s described here) is something we at PIP always consider in our evaluation of a child with more than 5 days of fever, redness of the eyes & lips, rash, irritability. We’ve seen clusters of it in the past 30 years. The main reason to identify an inflammatory illness like Kawasaki’s is to treat & protect the coronary arteries, which can become inflamed.

We will continue to closely follow the patterns of COVID-19 related illness in our community and update our families. For now, it still appears quite apparent that most COVID-19 cases in children are mild or asymptomatic. For that, we are very thankful.

Tips for Emerging Safely from COVID Quarantine

We have been getting a lot of questions from Colorado families pondering how to begin to step out again after weeks of exhausting “COVID quarantining”.  PIP Families, we are SO proud of all the sacrifices you have been making!  But please, DO keep “doing the right thing” and setting good examples for your family, friends and neighbors.  It’s estimated that only 2-5% of Coloradans have had COVID-19, so even if there is some antibody protection for that group, there may be > 90% of us still at risk of getting it (bummer!).  There is no getting around the fact that this awful virus will be with us for a long time to come.  “Pre-COVID-19 Life” as we knew it may not be possible for a while.   But if we are careful, we hope we can venture out safely to work, learn, play in a manner that will not overwhelm us.  So here are a few requests:

1) Keep wearing your masks(or some type of facial covering) – especially in public when you cannot maintain at least 6’ of distancing.  Remember, if you are not yet symptomatic you can still be the one who passes on the virus to those kind enough to serve you, work with you, do your hair, whatever.  Respect their safety – wear a mask.  Insist your family do the same.  (For kids less than 2 yrs. of age, masks may present a choking hazard – try to limit their exposure to others as best you can.)

2) Keep up the better hand washing, use of hand sanitizer, coughing-into-sleeve habits.  Hey, this will also help your family stay healthier this fall and winter!

3) Continue to avoid unnecessary trips to crowded destinations.

4) Look for exercise modifications that minimize contact – for example go play tennis but each person can bring and handle their own tennis balls.

5) Play dates with another child or two, from quarantined families are OK. But don’t throw a party for more than 10 people yet.  It’s also safer to be outdoors, if you can.

6) Continue to protect and shelter those at HIGH risk of serious COVID-19 disease.

7) Keep up the family dinners, cooking, game nights, and activities that brought you closer as a family – we hope this was the “silver lining” of this quarantine cloud for you all.

8) What about vacations?  That’s a tough one, as travel is still a risk.  Some families are figuring out alternative sites, a home together where they can cook in and minimize exposure, a road trip or camping, and it really comes down to what you think is truly best for your situation.