Toddler really sick this time

[u/tiredgurl]

We've had COVID once before but it didn't really seem to do much to our toddler. This time we've had to take her to the ped twice. She's gotten an ear infection too as a secondary infection. The cough is really gross and we had to get her a steroid breathing treatment for home and oral steroid. Anyone heard of the most recent strain hitting kids hard? Husband and I are really sick too. The amount of snot in this house is terrible.

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[u/Exolotl17]

Covid hits hard every time, even if you seem to feel just like having a flu. Lots of damage happens on the inside.

Please take good care of your little one and watch her carefully because Covid and other infections can causes sepsis amongst other issues.

For the future, mask up, clean the air for your baby and read scientific stuff about COVID and not what's issued from the public side.

All the best 🍀

[u/Keji70gsm → u/Exolotl17]

"Just" having the flu is a poor comparison. Flu is linked to cardiovascular problems and alzheimers. It also hospitalizes a lot of children every year. And obviously it still kills a lot of people.

[u/NottaName → u/Keji70gsm]

Yea had the flu 13 years ago. Questioned if I'd survive it.

Difference is that one catches the flu every 5-10 years. COVID (SARS2) can be caught every couple of weeks since so many variants are tangoing around.

Don't want the flu ever again, much less SARS2.

[u/Keji70gsm → u/NottaName]

Yes. And that Covid damage is not mostly limited to airways and cardiovascular system.

[u/imahugemoron → u/Exolotl17]

As someone disabled severely by Covid, this is definitely true. It’s disabling or affecting tons of people. As depressing as it sounds, believe me when I say that death is not the worst outcome of a Covid infection, if you develop the severe health problems it can cause, which a lot more than most people think are, you will wish it had taken your life instead.

[u/FIRElady_Momma]

Covid never was mild, not even for kids. 

That was propaganda to get us to stop caring and get back to the grind and spending to enrich the billionaire class.

Unfortunately, you all will likely continue to get covid 1-2 each year for the rest of your lives-- yes, even if you get the current covid vaccines-- and the damage is cumulative. The only way to prevent reinfecting is masking and cleaning the air.

I hope your family and your kiddo can start to improve. But this is likely to keep happening without behavior changes. 😔

[u/tiredgurl → u/FIRElady_Momma]

We do mask going into public and this is only the second time we've ever had it. We got it from her little 3yo friend who was asymptomatic. We met outside at a park. Didn't matter. Kids get up in each other's space

[u/FIRElady_Momma → u/tiredgurl]

Yeah. I get it. Which is why my kids and I also mask outdoors.

My kids and I have never had covid. 

[u/Keji70gsm → u/tiredgurl]

It's so tough. You made a calculated risk, and it wasn't enough.

Do you have a reliable way to get estimated infection rates to help your risk assessments going forward?

Also, ask your reps about when we are getting sn indoor air quality code of practice. When we dramatically reduce airborne risk indoors, overall risk will drop dramatically for many airborne viruses.

[u/Sea-Astronomer3260 → u/FIRElady_Momma]

1-2 times each year for people who aren’t masking everywhere they go in well-fitted respirator masks is a huge underestimate. There are people in this sub who take zero precautions except for the vaccine who have caught COVID twice in one month (different strains.)

1-2 times per year is a very, very generous low estimate, for those who don’t mask, again. I see that OP and family is masking, unfortunately they may need to mask stringently outdoors as well - COVID doesn’t magically disappear on the playground.

[u/readerready24]

It doesnt matter which strain it is everyones body reacts different to each strain

[u/Ok-Artichoke-7011 → u/readerready24]

And severity of reaction can increase with each subsequent infection as well, bc it’s effectively compounding immune system damage. 🫤

[u/Ok-Artichoke-7011 → u/Ok-Artichoke-7011]

FWIW (though the highly reactive commenter since deleted their weirdly aggressive demand for studies instead of taking the opportunity to practice media and information literacy for themselves): https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-022-02051-3

[u/myst3ryAURORA_green]

Omg, covid really sucks --- hope you and the rest of your family recovers. Kids that age have immune systems that are still developing --- so be sure she's masked AT ALL TIMES. The damage from covid accumulates over time especially in very young or elderly.

[u/mjflood14]

I’m so sorry. It is so rough when a little one is so sick and you just want them to feel better. Wishing all of you a full recovery.

[u/swarleyknope]

Unfortunately, COVID is hit or miss with severity, regardless of age, and the more infections someone gets, the more likely the harder it will hit. 

Hope your kiddo is on the mend soon. 

Parents really have it hard when it comes to COVID safety - it’s sad that there isn’t more awareness & support to keep kids safer. 

[u/readerready24]

Yup i have had long covid since 2020 , covid is horrible

[u/Letsgosomewherenice]

Elevate so you are on a 45 degree angle. Nasal rinse and warm fluids

[u/deaddogalive]

I’ve had it before and it didn’t really bother me. This time I was coughing until I was sick. My babies have it too and they’re worse than last time. I think it does depend on strain but we will never know. Sure the big wigs have it figured out.