Covid Care For Your Baby

Since 8 December 2019, an epidemic of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) has spread rapidly across the world.

Studies since then have shown that it is likely to affect older men with comorbidities, and only a few infections were seen in children. It mainly happened in family clusters. One study from China found that out of 9 children affected and admitted in a hospital, 7 were female.

Children of all ages can get affected with Covid, but all those who get infected don’t show any symptoms of illness.

Scientists are still not sure why children react differently from adults. Some experts feel it may be due to other coronaviruses that spread through the community and produce common cold in children, and since children get frequent colds, their immune systems may be primed to provide them some protection again Covid-19. Another possibility is that children’s immune system interacts with the virus differently in comparison to adults’.

Newborns can get affected with Covid-19 during childbirth or after delivery, from a sick caregiver. If you develop Covid-19 prior to delivery or are waiting for the test results, you can feed the baby wearing a mask and make sure you wash your hands frequently. You can keep a 6 feet distance with your baby at other times. When these steps are taken, the chances of the baby getting Covid are very small. Research shows that only 2% to 5% of infants were infected from mothers who tested positive just prior to delivery.

It's Your Baby: The Indian Parent's Guide to the

First Two Years By Dr Saroja Balan

Published by HarperCollins Price ₹499; Pages 428