COVID-19 Testing for Pediatric Patients
Do you have questions about your children getting tested for COVID-19? Talk to our team of healthcare professionals today at KidsHealth Pediatrics. Call us today or book an appointment online. We have pediatric clinics in Scottsdale AZ and Glendale AZ.
Table of Contents:
Can children get COVID-19?
What are the most commonly occurring symptoms in children of COVID-19?
Should your child be tested for COVID-19?
Where can I get COVID testing for my child?
When COVID-19 first hit, there was a lot of speculation and conflicting stories about the ability of children to catch COVID-19.
It can be hard to wade through all of the information in the media when it comes to this illness that caused a worldwide pandemic and shut down much of the world in early 2020.
As the illness persists and we continue to experience additional waves due to variants, the medical scientific community pushes to test, research and learn as much as they can about this virus.
Unlike the first wave of the pandemic, many affected countries are seeing a rise in childhood cases of COVID-19, particularly once vaccines were introduced for adults.
Initial vaccine distribution was slated for adults aged 18 and older, which was then expanded to include adolescents ages 12 and up.
With those groups being able to receive vaccine doses, many countries are now seeing a large increase in the number of COVID-19 cases in young children as they are unable to receive vaccines yet in many parts of the world.
When COVID-19 first hit at the end of 2019 and shut down much of the world in early 2020, it was initially thought that children couldn’t contract the virus.
As we have moved through the ongoing pandemic, scientists and medical professionals continue to learn more about the virus, including how it differs in its symptoms and severity in children and adults.
With children, cases are typically less severe and with many children experiencing only mild symptoms or if any symptoms at all.
That’s not to say that it can’t be a serious health risk to children, the likelihood is just smaller than it is with adults.
For children, symptoms of COVID-19 have been shown to be similar to those of the common cold and can include fever, sore throat, chills, cough, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, extreme fatigue, muscle aches and pain, severe headache and nasal congestion.
When symptoms are present, or if you suspect your child might have COVID-19, reach out to your child’s doctor.
Children experiencing symptoms should be kept at home, away from people outside of the household, with the exception of receiving medical care.
A COVID-19 test can be performed to determine whether or not the symptoms are caused by COVID.
The guidelines for when to test children for COVID-19 can vary greatly from one region to the next, depending on their current health protocols.
If your child is showing symptoms of COVID-19, keep them at home and away from other people until their symptoms clear up or they have tested negative for COVID.
Children who attend school, daycare, sports, and other extracurricular activities that expose them to other people of any age should get tested for COVID-19 if exhibiting symptoms.
In the event that your child tests positive for COVID, this will enable you to let close contacts know that they have potentially been exposed and should monitor themselves for symptoms.
While the pandemic continues and COVID-19 impacts the overall health care system around the world, COVID testing will continue to be an important tool to be used by all members of the population to prevent the spread of the virus and minimize the strain on our healthcare system.
COVID-19 testing is available for children experiencing symptoms or who are suspected to have contracted the illness at many different outlets.
To find the nearest testing facility to you, contact your local health authority.
For existing and established patients, KidsHealth Pediatrics is offering in-office COVID-19 testing for patients under the age of 18 years. For new patients, drive-through testing may be available depending on the current clinic capacity. Please fill in the pre-registration form online to be contacted for an appointment. Please do not hesitate to call us or schedule an appointment. We have clinics located in Glendale and Scottsdale, Arizona, to serve you well! We serve patients from Glendale AZ, Scottsdale AZ, Tempe AZ, Mesa AZ, Paradise Valley AZ, and Phoenix AZ.
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