Archive for coronavirus
Treating inflammation in MIS-C: An evidence-based approach
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a complex, post-COVID-19 spectrum of illness that has affected a small number of children and adolescents. Symptoms can include features of Kawasaki disease, cardiac dysfunction, hypotension and toxic-shock-like signs, abnormal blood coagulation, and prominent GI symptoms. At its core is a hyperinflammatory response that we do not yet ... Read More
Why parents really need to talk to their children about the news
These are strange, anxiety-provoking times. That’s true no matter where one lives or where one sits on the political spectrum — for all of us, it’s upsetting and confusing. If it feels that way for adults, just imagine what it’s like for children who catch snatches of information and conversations they don’t really understand. That’s ... Read More
Using augmentative communication to support COVID-19 patients
People with COVID-19 on a ventilator are unable to speak to express their needs, which can complicate their care and lead to poorer outcomes. The Augmentative Communication Program at Boston Children’s Hospital is supporting hospitals around the nation and around the world by helping them communicate with these critically ill patients in the hopes of improving their ... Read More
Signs of diabetes and other medical emergencies: Don’t delay care during the COVID outbreak
Merlin Ladd had been home from school for about six weeks when his parents started to notice that something was off. At first, they thought that the 13-year-old — like many of us — was simply in a funk from being stuck inside due to the COVID-19 outbreak. “He seemed lethargic and out of sorts,” ... Read More
Put your best face forward on Zoom calls: Tips from our pros
If you’re like most health care providers, your daily calendar has abruptly shifted from in-person meetings, visits, and consults to a virtual reality of Zoom calls and telemedicine visits. Whether you’re meeting with patients, presenting to colleagues at an online conference, or creating your own videos, you’ll want to make sure you’re putting your best ... Read More
COVID-19 and IEPs: Education for children with special needs
When Massachusetts shut down its public schools to prevent the spread of COVID-19, educators faced a huge challenge. With little time to prepare, school districts had to redesign classroom lesson plans for close to a million students. The interrupted school year has been especially hard on kids with individualized education programs (IEPs). An IEP is ... Read More
Radiology of COVID-19 infection in children: Imaging findings and recommendations
Key takeaways:· Lung images in children with COVID-19 show unique features, including the halo sign.· Chest X-ray and CT images differ significantly from early to late infection.· New imaging guidelines recommend when to perform imaging studies on children with COVID-19. As more children become infected with the coronavirus causing COVID-19, lung imaging shows that the ... Read More
Disparities in travel time to COVID-19 testing sites may bias case estimates
As the U.S. economy begins to reopen after two months of lockdown, states and counties are using local data on COVID-19 incidence to inform their plans. But a new analysis highlights an inconvenient truth. Geographic access to COVID-19 testing sites is as uneven as access to health care overall, meaning that local estimates of COVID-19 ... Read More
Tips for getting through the rest of this school year — and possibly next
If you’re like most parents, you’re not trained to be a teacher or a tutor. And yet, many parents are finding themselves in these roles since schools closed in March. For many, it’s a role that can be fraught with frustration and guilt. If you don’t make sure your child keeps up with schoolwork, will ... Read More
Cancer and COVID-19: Ethics guidelines for resource allocation
Main findings: Hospitals should create guidelines in advance to ensure cancer patients are fairly represented in possible resource allocation decisions — in COVID-19 and other emergencies.A cancer diagnosis should be considered as any other underlying health condition.Decisions about distributing limited resources should not be made by a patient’s physician. As the COVID-19 pandemic began surging ... Read More