Children and Covid: What happens after?

an insight into what happens to children after Covid-19

Everyone on this globe is currently affected by the pandemic and it has been mentally stressful for the most of us. Especially the little ones.

Today we went with our newborn daughter, Olivia for her one month check up at our paediatrician and as usual we ended up chatting about everything from baby poop to, of course, Covid-19. 

With schools opening up soon here in Singapore, I was curious to know how many children cases of Covid-19 were treated in Singapore so far since we (or is it just me?) have not heard any details about children cases specifically.

I was quite surprised to know that there were in total over 40 children cases but in comparison with the total number of 28,000+ cases as of today, it is not much at all.

What she said next though left me speechless and heartbroken.

She explained to us that diagnosing the children with Covid is not the worst part. Many children end up suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) after going through the process of battling Covid. 

How? Imagine this, put yourself into a childs position: you are being picked up by people in a hazmat suit and transported in an ambulance to the hospital where even more scary looking doctors and nurses in hazmat suits wait for you. Your mum or dad might not even be there because they as well need to be treated or tested for Covid in a seperate wing of the hospital. You are all alone, you don’t know anybody and everyone looks strange and scary to you. You will be pushed around, you don’t understand what is going on around you. You need to be isolated. You are in a room with no one else. Sometimes a nurse will come to you to take your blood and swab your nose for testing. Every Day for 25 days non stop. Every day they put a needle in you and take your blood and every day they poke a swab up your nose to test a sample. And every day you are alone in a strange place. 

The cases range from anywhere age a few months to teenagers. When you are 16 years old you understand what is happening around you but when you are a young toddler you do not comprehend what the logic and reasoning behind all these procedures are. Allie is nearly two years old. She can understand what we are saying and communicate with us but she does not comprehend why she suddenly needs to wear a mask. I tried to imagine the unthinkable of Allie being in the position of one of the children and it breaks my heart. Imagine all the mental stress, emotional anxiety and uncertainty that these children have to face. 

Child psychologists are treating these children after their Covid-19 experiences and as this pandemic leaves lifelong memories for us adults, it might leave some troubling ones for the young. Teenagers will finish school without their friends from behind a screen, Toddlers are coped up at home without social interactions with other children. In some way everyone’s mental health is currently being challenged.

We are all angry, sad, disappointed and frustrated. I don’t want to tell anyone what to do. Just felt like sharing this piece of information with you. Common Sense and Compassion.