Minal Amin, MD, is a pediatric emergency medicine physician at Inova Children’s Hospital. Dr. Amin is board certified in emergency medicine and pediatric emergency medicine.
Nicole Barbera, DO, is a fellow in pediatric emergency medicine at Inova Children’s Hospital. Dr. Barbera is board certified in pediatrics.
At Inova, we want to support you during the current novel coronavirus pandemic and want you to know we are here for you and the medical needs of your child.
For the safety of our community and patients we have modified our visitation policies (including special guidelines for Inova Children’s Hospital), initiated universal masking for both providers and patients/families, and divided the Emergency Department into separate sections for patients with concern for COVID-19 versus other medical conditions.
See all Inova COVID-19 community information
COVID-19 is the name of the medical condition caused by the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), which typically causes respiratory illness with symptoms including cough, fever and difficulty breathing. Children may be more likely than adults to have non-respiratory symptoms such as headache, muscle aches or sore throat. Some people may have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, but this is less common.
The highest-risk patients for severe infection are adults over 65 years old and those with medical problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, COPD or weak immune systems. The good news is most children have mild illness and there have been very few deaths in children.
This virus mainly spreads from person to person from breathing, coughing or sneezing through little water droplets. Virus particles left on their hands can then be transferred across surfaces such as faucet handles, door knobs, shopping cart handles, but this is likely far less common than by respiratory droplets. The “6-foot rule” for social distancing (stay six feet apart from other people in public places) comes from the fact that most large respiratory droplets fall to the ground within six feet.
The diagnosis of COVID- 19 is made by a physician, confirmed by testing with a nasal swab. However, testing availability is limited and is therefore reserved for patients who are very ill, require hospital admission or have medical conditions that put them at increased risk for severe infection. Chest X-rays are sometimes helpful in ill patients, but generally not necessary in patients well enough to stay home. Read about Inova’s Respiratory Illness Clinics
Currently, there is no vaccine to prevent this illness and no specific medications to treat it other than symptomatically. If your child is otherwise healthy, most treatment can be done at home.
Rarely, children with difficulty breathing or pneumonia may have to be admitted to the hospital for oxygen support and hydration. This is quite different than in adults, where as many as 1 in 5 adults may be admitted to the hospital.
If you and your child are healthy or are managing symptoms at home, stay at home to protect yourselves and others. The elderly and people with serious health problems are extremely vulnerable to contracting the infection if exposed to you or your sick child, which could have life threatening consequences. Guidelines include:
Find a pediatric ER or urgent care center in your community
STARKID TIPS BLOG: Read more posts from Inova’s pediatric emergency medicine blog and sign up at inovachildrens.org/starkid-blog
Jan. 10, 2020 – Is Your Little One Coughing? It Could Be Bronchiolitis (Author: Adam Bullock, MD)
Dec. 18, 2019 – The Meaning of Fever (Author: Frederick Place, MD)
Nov. 15, 2019 – Concussion & Youth Sports: New Research Gives Clues for Keeping Athletes Safe (Author: Melissa Womble, PhD)
Sept. 25, 2019 – The Vaping Epidemic: Get the Facts (Authors: B. Jill McCabe, MD; Katie MacDonald, MSN, CPNP; and Erin Rovelli, RN, BSN)
Aug. 9, 2019 – Tick Season (Author: Katie MacDonald, MSN, CPNP)
June 24, 2019 – Protect Your Kids From Drowning (Author: Frederick Place, MD)
June 20, 2019 – Heatstroke: Know the Signs (Author: Frederick Place, MD)
June 6, 2019 – Back to School Health (Author: Erin Rovelli, RN)
Jan. 10, 2019 – Vaccination Fast Facts (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD and Erin Rovelli, RN)
Dec. 18, 2018 – What is a Children’s ER? (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD and Erin Rovelli, RN)
Sept. 19, 2018 – Concussion Fast Facts: Protecting Your Child from Brain Injury (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD; Lennis Klenk, NP; Erin Rovelli, RN)
Sept. 14, 2018 – Flu: Prevention to Treatment (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD and Erin Rovelli, RN)
April 19, 2018 – Childhood Viruses of Winter: Stomach Virus (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD and Erin Rovelli, RN)
March 2, 2018 – Childhood Viruses of Winter: Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD and Erin Rovelli, RN)
August 1, 2017 – Childhood Viruses of Winter: Flu (Authors: Ronnie Waldrop, MD and Erin Rovelli, RN)
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