Yes, we have all successfully passed through a year since the pandemic started. And we all have to be grateful to God, health-care workers, and social workers who have dedicated their lives to protect ours. We all know that children under 15 years and adults above 55 years of age are the most likely to get affected by covid-19 coronavirus. In the case of infants, the risk is even too big and this is where pediatricians played a major role.
Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in managing the physical and mental behavior and health of children under 18 years of age. Pediatrics is a branch of medical science that deals with the medical care of infants, children and adolescents.
Like any other doctors and health-care workers, pediatricians have also played an incredible role in getting us through this pandemic. Since the beginning of the pandemic, there has been a significant drop in child visits to hospitals which have resulted in delay of vaccinations, screening, other referrals, and also delay in anticipatory guidance to ensure optimal health of a child. Most pediatricians rapidly adapted to the situation and did whatever they could to provide all the help over the internet and calls, and in-person care as safely as possible. Though outpatient visits to all other departments have nearly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels, pediatric visits and immunization visits are yet to reach the minimum level.
Most of the pediatricians are well prepared to ensure the health of all newborns, infants and children are up to date with their well-child care with all appropriate screenings, complete physical examination, laboratory exams and vaccines, etc. They are prepared well for the situation and are providing guidance in various ways.
With reference to all previous guidances, well-child care should be carried out in person whenever possible, in a place where the child’s continuous care can be maintained. Now, pediatricians have successfully implemented telehealth to provide all the help virtually. Though it should be followed by an in-person visit.
Pediatricians are identifying children who have missed well-child care and are recommending vaccinations and are contacting them to schedule appointments respectively.
Pediatricians are contacting the families and informing them of the strategies implemented by primary care medical home offices to reduce the risk of viral transmission.
In case the infant’s mother is tested positive for covid-19 and the infant is not, then a non-symptomatic alternate caregiver is asked to accompany the infant for the well-child visits.
Apart from the management of well-child visits, pediatricians and pediatric infectious disease specialists are facing challenges with the infections during the neonatal period. They are also putting a lot of effort in close monitoring of at-risk neonates for a long time in the neonatal wards. These pediatricians are risking their lives to ensure the health and safety of many infants and children. They deserve to be acknowledged as much as any other health-care workers like doctors, nurses, etc; who have also played a valuable and important role in this pandemic.
Author: Team 60pmus India
Keywords: pediatricians, well-child care, neonatal, infants, children, vaccination, physical examination, in-person visits.
Tags: #pediatricians #pediatrics #pediatrician #doctor #pediatric #physician #pediatricnurse #medicine #kids #children #covid #medstudent #doctors #medical
