Amanda May and Ryan Schrieber had the fright of their life as their one-year-old son Luke had a scorching fever and was later diagnosed with COVID-19.
Luke was with his four-month-old brother Alistair when the US mother noticed her sons had a fever.
“Luke woke up crying, which he never usually does, and he had a fever close to 103, a little more than Alistair’s,” Amanda told Detroit News.
“… I immediately thought ‘oh no,’ but we didn’t panic. We got them up, gave them Motrin and the fevers reduced quickly, so we hoped it was nothing to worry about,” she said.
But then Luke took a turn for the worse.
Amanda May and Ryan Schrieber had the fright of their life as their one-year-old son Luke had a scorching fever and was diagnosed with COVID-19. | Image: Facebook
“This fever spiked like I had never seen”
“Even after his nap, he was still playing but refused eating and drinking,” Amanda May said. “In about an hour’s time, this fever spiked like I had never seen.”
Amanda quickly put him in a cold bathtub to try to cool him down but he was shaking and shivering badly.
“Luke started screaming because it was cold, and we were obviously really scared because it all happened really quickly,” Ryan said. “In that quick moment of panic, you know you have to jump in action.”
Amanda and Ryan took him to hospital where they discovered he had the virus. He was sent home 12 hours later, but for two weeks Luke suffered an incredible lingering fever.
“It’s just the lingering fever. It’s unbelievable. It goes away and comes right back. We have yet to see a day without a fever at some point. He gets exhausted way faster and just needs to sleep more,” she told Michigan Live.
A pregnant woman battling coronavirus urged people to stay inside in a distressing video from her hospital bed. | Photo: Kidspot
Amanda says she’s “frustrated at the response she’s received from some people who still don’t believe young kids can get the virus.”
“Luke has had colds and viruses regularly like any kid. It usually takes him a few days to get over things. He’s never had any issues. And he’s never had a temperature like that. He is a healthy boy full of energy. This virus has knocked him on his butt.”
What parents should look out for in children and teens
According to the CDC, fever, cough, and in a smaller number, shortness of breath are the most common symptoms reported in paediatric patients.
To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 in children, the CDC advises parents to clean their child’s hands often with soap and water, disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily and items like washable plush toys.
Adults should also note that while breastmilk are said to have benefits to baby including immunity boosting properties, there is no definitive proof that breast milk could guard babies against COVID-19 infections.
Never resort to buying breastmilk online in consideration of risks of sale of diluted breast milk and complications from non-tested sources.
This article was first published on Kidspot and republished on theAsianparent with permission.
ALSO READ:
COVID-19: 80% of Kids Likely To Be Infected But Don’t Show Symptoms, Says Paediatrician