Masks not recommended for children below 5 years, DGHS reviews COVID-19 guidelines
The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) that comes under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has said that wearing masks to prevent coronavirus disease is not recommended for children below five years of age.
It further said that children aged between six to 11 years may wear a mask, but only the supervision of parents and the consulting doctor, news agency ANI reported. The recent recommendations made by the DGHS deal with coronavirus disease management in children below 18 years of age.
According to reports, the government has come out with comprehensive guidelines for the management of COVID-19 among children in which Remdesivir has not been recommended and rational use of HRCT imaging has been suggested.
The guidelines issued by the DGHS also said that steroids are harmful in asymptomatic and mild cases of infection. The DGHS recommended steroids only in hospitalised moderately severe and critically ill COVID-19 cases under strict supervision.
“Steroids should be used at the right time, in the right dose and for the right duration. Self-medication of steroids must be avoided,” it said. The guidelines further stated that Remdesivir (an emergency use authorization drug) is not recommended in children.
“There is lack of sufficient safety and efficacy data with respect to Remdesivir in children below 18 years of age,” the guidelines said.
