In a bid to ensure safety of pediatric patients, the Hamad Medical Corporation (HMC) has designated specific isolated areas in healthcare facilities to treat children with COVID-19 and other medical complications, said Dr. Sadriya Al Kohji, Assistant Director of Medicine for Child and Adolescent Health, Clinical Affairs Department,  and National Lead for Healthy Children and Adolescent Strategy.

Also, Pediatric Emergency Centre in Al Daayen has been kept as a back-up facility to receive pediatric COVID-19 patients if number of cases surpasses the capacity of Al Sadd Pediatric Emergency, she said speaking to The Peninsula.

“Hamad Medical Corporation’s Al Sadd Pediatric Emergency has been designated as a COVID-19 facility for the treatment of children since April, and it has provided high-quality care for children infected with the virus with allocated four beds for intensive care and COVID-19 specified pharmacy and X-ray room. Pediatric Emergency Centre in Al Daayen has been identified as additional facility to receive pediatric COVID-19 patients if number of cases exceeds the capacity of Al Sadd Pediatric Emergency,” said Dr. Al Kohji.

“Pediatric COVID-19 positive in-patients with burns (Al Wakra Hospital), surgical emergencies (Cuban Hospital), dialysis (HMC dialysis center), neonatal intensive care (Woman Wellness and Research Centre), imaging CT and MRI, complicated surgeries (Heart Hospital) will be treated in specific isolated areas of the hospitals. While, COVID-19 positive pregnant women will deliver at the Cuban Hospital. Also specific staff have been assigned in these hospitals to care COVID-19 pediatric in-patients,” she said.

People of all ages can contract COVID-19, but the evidence to date shows that very few children experience severe symptoms if they become infected. In Qatar around three to four percent of positive cases are confirmed in children under the age of 14 years old.
Dr. Al Kohji said that several other steps have been taken to ensure the safety of children and reduce their exposure to COVID-19.

These include, converting non-urgent outpatient appointments to telephone or video consultation and home delivery for medications, swabbing all children, adolescent and staff upon entrance to non COVID-19 treatment facilities such as Sidra Medicine and swabbing all children who come from other countries.

“While children are at low risk of experiencing severe symptoms from the virus, they are just as likely as anyone else to pass the virus on to other family members. Children can act as carriers of COVID-19 and transmit the virus to parents or elderly relatives who may have chronic medical conditions and be more vulnerable to severe symptoms,” said Dr. Al Kohji, who is also a Consultant in Community Medicine at Primary Health Care Corporation.  “It is still extremely important for children to follow preventive measures to protect themselves from COVID-19.

“These include regular hand washing, not touching their eyes, nose and mouth and adhering to physical distancing guidelines and asking them and their care givers wearing face mask on visiting any facility outside the house,” she said.
She also emphasised that for many children it can be difficult to fully understand the way in which their lives have been changed due to COVID-19.

“It is important that parents and care-givers take the time to explain what is happening to children and answer any questions they may have. At the same time care-givers have to change the daily routine activities of their children to household activities which will help them maintain good physical and mental health,” said Dr. Al Kohji.

She also said that it is extremely important to comply with receiving routine immunisations for children. It is also important to continue practising breastfeeding, healthy nutrition, physical activity, maintaining good dental hygiene of children.

“Also it is very crucial to seek medical advice and health care assistance by visiting the health facilities when the child is sick and has clinical red flags of any health problems as if it was ignored will put the child in a serious risk,” said Dr. Al Kohji.
Mental health and psychological support can be required for children and adolescents by calling the hotline 16000.