The Directorate General of Health Services, DGHS of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Thursday issued comprehensive guidelines for the management of Covid-19 in children below 18 years.
In the guidelines, the government has strictly forbidden the use of Remdesivir in children infected with coronavirus. Also, Children under the age of five are no longer required to wear masks and those aged between 6 and 11 should use a mask under the supervision of their parents.
DGHS has said that there is a lack of sufficient safety and efficacy data about the use of Remdesivir in children below 18 years of age.
Lab investigations are not required for the children in asymptomatic and mild cases.
These investigations are needed only in moderate and severe cases.
Rational use of a high-resolution CT scan of the chest has been recommended by the DGHS.
Routine high-resolution CT imaging of the chest in Covid-19 patient is not recommended.
The use of high-resolution CT scan has been advised in moderate and severe cases in Children in the event of continuous worsening of condition.
DGHS has advised avoiding self-medication of steroids.
It has recommended that the use of steroids is harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of COVID-19.
It has been suggested that steroids must be used at the right time in the right dose under strict supervision in hospitalized moderately severe and critically ill Covid-19 cases in Children.