Children’s Mercy in KC tested 103 kids for coronavirus and had first positive Tuesday
Children’s Mercy Hospital tested 103 children for the novel coronavirus and its first positive result came back Tuesday, a doctor for the hospital said.
“The child presented in our Adelle Hall Campus emergency department Sunday evening with cough, sore throat and a history of fever,” Dr. Angela Myers, director of the division of infectious diseases at the hospital, said Wednesday.
“After being fully assessed and found to have a minor illness, the child who also had possible contact with the coronavirus was swabbed and then sent home.”
The hospital received confirmation Tuesday morning that the child tested positive for COVID-19, Myers said.
“We notified the family of the test results and the family agreed to self quarantine,” she said.
The case was reported to the Kansas City Health Department, which was to notify the health department in the area where the patient lives.
Wyandotte County reported that a male student at a private high school in Wyandotte County tested positive for the novel coronavirus and is under home quarantine. County leaders said they learned about the case Tuesday afternoon and are working closely with the teen’s school. The patient is younger than 18.
“We spoke with the family this morning, who reported their child continues to have mild symptoms and is recovering at home,” Myers said. The child is being treated with a fever reducer and plenty of fluids at home.
“We expect the child to make a full recovery,” Myers said.
Most children appear to have mild symptoms compared to adults, she said.
“We see that children are having mild fevers, coughs, sore throats and things like that,” Myers said. “Those children need to be kept at home. If they do not need to see a medical provider for their symptoms, they should just be kept at home and you should practice social distancing as best you can.”
If the child needs to see a doctor, parents should call their primary physicians so that they can make arrangements if they think the child needs to be seen at the hospital’s emergency department or admitted to the hospital, Myers said.
The hospital has online information about what parents need to know about the coronavirus and COVID-19. It can be found at childrensmercy.org.
“It is natural to be worried. We are all parents as well, so we understand that worry and concern . . . “ Myers said. “We are reaching out to our community to help alleviate fears and to really remind folks that children generally have very mild disease and be kept at home and do not need to seek medical care unless they truly need it.”
Parents should seek medical attention if their child develops difficulty breathing or fast breathing.
The hospital has adequate supplies right now to provide safe and effective care of children who come to the hospital, said Dr. Jennifer Watts, director of emergency preparedness.
“In the event of a pandemic, we also take precautions and start preparing for tomorrow, for next month and for the months down the road,” she said. “So we work on replenishing those supplies as best we can to prepare.”
Because of the pandemic, the hospital has changed the way it brings patients in. Patients presenting with a respiratory illness are placed in a different waiting area away from other patients with other medical needs, she said. The hospital also has rooms and supplies to take care of the children and keep them isolated.
