Indian Academy of Paediatrics-Tamil Nadu State Chapter organised a Covid Nursing Training Module Webinar
Coimbatore: The Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Tamil Nadu State Chapter (IAP TNSC) under the Presidentship of Dr. Mohammed Ismail, Secretary Dr. Rajendran and Treasurer Dr. Gopal Subramaniam conducted a webinar to empower nursing staff about the pediatric Covid infection, its symptoms, early diagnosis, triaging the children according to the severity of illness, monitoring, infection control and prevention.
The Indian Academy of Pediatrics, Tamil Nadu State Chapter (IAP TNSC) Secretary, Dr. K Rajendran explained that the "Indian Academy of Pediatrics is a body of pediatricians which has 28,000 members and with 140 branches all over India. IAP TNSC has almost 3,500 members who work for the upliftment and health of children in our state. As we are aware of the current pandemic of Covid, IAP TNSC is organising various programmes for the benefit of doctors, paramedical staff and parents. Since the first Covid case reported in India during January 2020, we have witnessed two waves of the pandemic. Fortunately, during the pandemic waves, less than 12 percent of the cases were of children and young adults, and the mortality in the age group was less than 2 percent.
As we prepare for the third wave, we are doubly prepared to tackle the scenario. Multi-system inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has been reported to occur in children typically after two to six weeks of an infection. The high risk group of children include those with neurological impairments, genetic syndrome, immune compromised obesity, congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, asthma, diabetes and those on cancer chemotherapy medications.
Dr. Booma, Professor of Pediatrics, Coimbatore Medical College Hospital (CMCH) presented an overview of Covid infection in children. She addressed the nature of the pandemic and explained when children need to be hospitalised. "Children with rapid breathing, low saturation of less than 90 percent, poor activity, chest retractions and seizure show that they have the most severe infection. All children with Covid symptoms need not be admitted. Children with mild distress with fever, sore throat, rhinitis, mild cough without any co-morbid condition can be kept under home quarantine with adequate rest, paracetamol for fever, breast feeding for infants and normal diet for older kids.
Dr.Lakshmi Velmurugan, Professor of Pediatric, ICH, HC Chennai spoke about clinical management of a Covid-infected child in a peripheral health centre, a private OP or in an ICU. She emphasised on the initial lab test and need for cardiology consultation if the child is admitted in ICU. The symptoms and management of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), the drugs used etc were explained in detail in simple language so that nurses could easily understand.
The prevention aspect of disease was dealt by Dr. Dhanalakshmi from Kanchi Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital. She spoke extensively about how to protect individually correct methods of wearing masks and PPEs, preventing hospital-acquired infection due to waste disposal and importance of vaccination.
The Principal Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Government's Health and Family Welfare presided over the webinar. Dr. S Gurunathan, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services, Chennai and Dr. Narayana Babu, Director of Medical Education, Government of Tamil Nadu were special guests at the webinar. Dr. Ashok Kumar, Director of Medical and Rural Health Services (ESI), Dr. K Kolandaswamy, Director, Public Health Member State Task Force for Covid-19 management, Dr. Srinivas, State Nodal office, NRHM, Chennai, Dr. S Ani Grace Kalaimathi, Registrar, TNMC, Chennai and many others participated in the informative webinar. The programme was convened by Dr.S Thangavelu, Chennai.