There aren’t many diseases that have received the attention that COVID-19 has received from the medical community. Even fewer have been the subject of such intense and immediate study to prevent its spread. COVID-19 was the source of many landmarks in medical science, including the rapid creation of a vaccine, worldwide cooperation, and government response. However, numerous questions about the disease remain unanswered despite all this effort. One such question involves its asymptomatic presence in children and its ability to spread.
The Facts Behind Asymptomatic COVID
The impact of COVID on younger patients has been the focus of many ongoing studies since the pandemic began. One of the results of these studies is an understanding that COVID may appear in children without producing symptoms. This condition is known as asymptomatic COVID and poses a significant risk to those around them. Just because the child is not showing symptoms of the disease does not mean that they cannot spread it. This means that they can be silent vectors of transmission to those who are immunocompromised or unvaccinated. This means that it’s essential for children to be tested regularly and to follow these guidelines:
- Persist with mask-wearing and social distancing
- Maintain hand-washing habits to prevent the spread of the disease
- Get vaccinations and the latest boosters as soon as they’re available
COVID is one of the greatest challenges our modern medical community has ever faced. It appeared unexpectedly, spread rapidly, and has had the opportunity to mutate rapidly. This mutation rate is partially due to the nature of the disease. However, it’s also due to those who refuse to take action to protect themselves and those around them. Without maintaining social distancing, mask-wearing, and becoming vaccinated, these individuals have provided a breeding ground for mutations.
There is one piece of good news regarding these mutations. While they do appear to be more contagious than previous variants of the disease, the symptoms they produce are no worse than before. It’s important to understand that only good fortune ensures this remains the case. To properly protect ourselves from the potential of a more deadly variant, everyone must get vaccinated. This will reduce the pool of people who will experience the disease. Those vaccinated individuals who do contract it will typically experience shorter recovery periods and less severe symptoms. Children, in particular, need to be vaccinated and follow mask-wearing practices to ensure the protection of everyone.
Why Is This On A Dental Site?
Preventing the spread of COVID and the extension of the pandemic is everyone’s responsibility. We see patients of every age at our clinic. We’re all in this thing together, and ensuring that everyone participates in the efforts to stop its spread and end the pandemic is essential. To that end, we urge parents to follow the guidelines mentioned above. Have your children checked regularly, have them continue to wear their masks, and socially distance themselves in public or around those who are unvaccinated. This ensures that they remain safe during their visits to our clinic, and so do we.