Medical specialist urges parents not to send children with Covid symptoms to school

A medical specialist yesterday urged parents not to send their children to school if they showed any symptoms of COVID-19. Paediatrician at the Lady Ridgeway Children’s Hospital Dr. Channa de Silva said that those symptoms included fever, cold, diarrhoea or vomiting.

Dr. de Silva said that there had been an increase in the children who had contracted COVID-19. Apart from the coronavirus, children were also affected by dengue and a viral fever, he said.

He said there was no treatment for the viral fever and that the best way to keep everyone safe was to keep sick children at home. They should be allowed to rest and not come into contact with other children, he said.

“If the children with symptoms are sent to school, they will not have time to rest. They will get sicker and if they are infected with Covid-19, they might spread it to other children at school. If COVID spreads rapidly among schoolchildren, there may be school closures, I don’t think anyone wants that,” he said.

Dr. de Silva said parents should seek medical advice if children developed symptoms such as fever, cold, diarrhea, vomiting or if they refuse food or any change in their behavior could be observed.

“A lot of children are getting viral fever these days. There is also a spike in Covid-19 and dengue fever. Seek medical advice as soon as possible because getting proper treatment at the earliest is the best. Some children might have to be subject to Rapid Antigen Test or blood tests based on their health condition. Some children may have to be hospitalized and some will have to undergo treatment at home under medical advice,” he said.

Dr. de Silva said it was important for everyone to follow health practices and keep away from crowded places.