McDonough Pediatrics

COVID-19 UPDATES:

How do I know if my child has COVID-19?

Your child should be tested for COVID-19 if they have any of the following symptoms:

• Fever
• New sore throat
• New cough (not related to chronic illness)
• New shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• New runny nose/nasal congestion
• New loss of taste or smell
• New muscle ache

Children with COVID-19 may also have abdominal (belly area) pain, diarrhea, nausea or vomiting, poor appetite or feeding, headache, joint pain or fatigue. These symptoms alone are not a reason to test unless your child has been exposed to someone with COVID-19.

Where can I get a COVID-19 test?
You can use a home testing kit (often called antigen tests). Children recently exposed to COVID-19 without symptoms may test negative at first. Test again a second time in 1-2 days. Additional information on self-testing is available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/testing/self-testing.html

You can get free home testing kits delivered to your home by going to www.Covidtests.gov

When should I call my doctor?
Children with mild symptoms (such as fever, mild sore throat, nasal congestion, mild cough, aches, and pains) can usually be taken care of at home without needing to see or call your health care provider.

You should call your doctor’s office if your child has any of the following:

• Fever, based on the following:
o In babies under 12 weeks, a fever over 100.4F (38°C) (Do not give fever-reducing medication until you speak with your doctor or the nurse.)
o In older children, a fever over 105°F (40.5°C)
• A fever over 102.4F (39.1°C ) that does not respond to fever medication or that lasts for more than 3 days
• Hard time breathing
• Wheezing (whistling noise when breathing)
• Not taking fluids
• In babies, no urine in diaper for 8 hours
• In children over age 3, no urine output in 10 hours
• Lethargy (extreme fatigue or tiredness) or sleeping excessively
• Ear pain
• Severe sore throat
• Develops a rash covering much of the body
• If your child has other medical problems as well as COVID-19
• Any time you are worried about your child’s condition

As always, call 911 or take your child to the emergency department if they have difficulty breathing or develop other serious symptoms.

How long can I expect my child to be sick?
Each child is different. Some children may not be very sick at all. Others may have high fevers and feel very sick. Your child may continue to have mild symptoms for up to 2 weeks.

How can I take care of my child at home?
The care for a child with COVID-19 is the same as for any child with the flu or a virus. These are the most important things to do for your child:

• Stay calm and comfort your child.
• Wear a mask when within 6 feet of your child when caring for or comforting them.
• If your child is younger than 12 weeks old, call your doctor’s office for any fever over 100.4F (38°C). Do not give your baby any fever-reducing medications without checking with your doctor or nurse.
• If your child is over 12 weeks old, use fever-reducing medications for a temperature over 102F (38.8°C) or if you think the fever is making your child uncomfortable. You can start with acetaminophen (Tylenol®). If that does not work and your baby is 6 months of age or older, switch to ibuprofen (Motrin®), unless your doctor has instructed you otherwise. Follow the dosing directions on the package.
• Encourage your child to drink fluids. Your child should drink almost as much fluid as they did before they were sick. If you are breastfeeding, you can continue to do so.
• If your child is congested or coughing, you can use a humidifier in their room.

Should other people in the home be tested?
We recommend that anyone exposed to a child with COVID-19 be tested. An exposure is defined as being within 6 feet of a person with COVID-19 for 15 minutes within 48 hours of their onset of symptoms or positive test (if asymptomatic, or not showing symptoms).

How can I protect others in the home from COVID-19?

• Wear a mask when within 6 feet of your child.
• Wash your hands every time you have close contact with your child.
• If your child is old enough, they should also wear a mask when within 6 feet of anyone in your home.
• If possible, your child should stay in a space separated from others and use a separate bathroom.
• Give your child their own set of household items, such as paper plates, cups or eating utensils. They should not share household items with other family members.
• Everyone in your home should wash their hands often with soap and water for 20 seconds and avoid touching their faces.

What is the difference between isolation and quarantine?
Isolation is for people who have tested positive for COVID-19 or who has symptoms of COVID-19. Quarantine is for people who have been exposed to someone with COVID-19. The CDC has more information here https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html.

How long does my child need to isolate?

Note: The CDC guidelines change frequently, so you should check the CDC's website for any updates https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/about-covid-19.html. This was the CDC guidance as of January 4, 2022.
Your child must stay at home for 5 days following the positive COVID-19 test or if they have COVID-19 symptoms. After 5 days, your child can leave the home (if they can wear a mask around others) and only if they meet both of the following:

• There are no symptoms or symptoms are resolving (getting better)
• They have not had a fever within the past 24 hours

Your child should continue to wear a mask around others for another 5 days. If your child cannot wear a mask around others, they should continue to isolate at home for another 5 days. Avoid people who are immunocompromised (when the immune system is not as strong or does not work as it should) or at high risk for severe disease. You should also avoid nursing homes and other high-risk settings until after at least 10 days. The hospital is considered a high-risk setting.

How long do other family members need to quarantine?

If your child is isolated, it is best for your child’s primary caretaker to quarantine at home. Household members who test positive should isolate.

Guidance around the need for quarantine with an exposure is changing. See the CDC https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/quarantine-isolation.html, Massachusetts Department of Public Health https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-public-health or your state website for the most up-to-date guidance. Once your child’s isolation period is complete, household members should also wear a mask around others for 10 days.

Anyone outside of the household who has been exposed to your child should get tested 5 days after the exposure or sooner if symptoms develop. They should also wear a mask when around others for 10 days.

Once isolation and quarantine are completed, your child, family and other contacts should continue to follow local guidance on the prevention of COVID-19 spread in the community.

When can my child return to school and other activities?

• Check with your child’s school, daycare, activity coordinator or place of employment and follow their guidelines for returning to normal activities.

• If your child is sick, they should remain home.
• Your child does not need a doctor’s note to return to school.

This information was prepared by Mass General for Children with some modifications by McDonough Pediatrics for specific information for our area.

COVID.gov/tests - Free at-home COVID-19 tests Every home in the U.S. is eligible to order a 3rd round of free at-home tests. Order yours today.

Please note, we are closed today, Monday 27th, in lieu of Christmas Day being on a Saturday. We will be open tomorrow.

We will also be closed on Friday 31st and open again on Monday 3rd.

WE ARE WORKING HARD!
Please be assured that we are working very hard to see all of our patients for check-ups and sick visits. We very much advocate the use of the COVID-19 vaccination as it has been proven safe and highly effective.
Due to the perpetuated spread of COVID in our community of late the practice has been extremely busy and we'd like to take this opportunity to thank you for your continued patience and support at this trying time.
Please bear with us as you will most likely experience extended wait times, as our providers work diligently to care for each and every child. We offer the same exemplary attention and care to all of our patients and wish to see each one thriving and well!

Kathy Dyson
4:19 PM

New 11th Grade Immunization Requirements
Georgia's immunization requirements for students entering or transferring into the eleventh grade have been revised to align with the current recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP), the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP).
Effective July 1, 2021, all students who are new entrants or transfers into a Georgia school in the eleventh grade, will require proof of a booster dose of the meningococcal conjugate vaccine, unless their first dose was received on or after their sixteenth birthday.

Debunking Myths That Have Some Parents Resisting COVID Vaccines for Teens.
https://consumer.healthday.com/5-28-myths-have-some-parents-balking-at-covid-vaccines-for-teens-2653125591.html

McDonough Pediatrics is very excited to announce that we have COVID Vaccines and are ready to begin vaccinating our 12+ year old patients against COVID19!
We will also vaccinate any parents and guardians. You must schedule an appointment. To do so, contact our office at 770-957-8626. If you already have an appointment for your child, please call us to add the shot to their appointment. Or we schedule Pfizer (12 years old +) on Tuesday and Moderna (18 years old +) on Wednesday.

McDonough Pediatrics is very excited to announce that we have the Moderna Vaccine and are ready to begin vaccinating our 18+ year old patients against COVID19!
We will also vaccinate any parents under the age of 65. You must schedule an appointment. To do so, contact [email protected] for more information.
Or contact our office at 770-957-8626.

None of the COVID-19 vaccines currently in development in the United States uses the live virus that causes COVID-19. You may have symptoms like a fever after you get a vaccine. This is normal and a sign that your immune system is learning how to recognize and fight the virus that causes COVID-19. Learn more about the facts behind COVID-19 vaccines: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/about-vaccines/vaccine-myths.html

Your best protection from COVID-19 will be a combination of getting a COVID-19 vaccine, wearing a mask, staying at least 6 feet away from others, avoiding crowds, and washing your hands often. No one tool alone is going to stop the pandemic. Learn about the benefits of COVID-19 vaccination so you’ll be ready when a vaccine is recommended: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/about-vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html