What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a virus, so symptoms tend to be very similar to those caused by other common viruses that your child may have had.

The majority of children infected with COVID-19 only have mild symptoms. It is also common for children to test positive for the virus who have no symptoms at all, at any stage.

The most common symptoms to expect include fever, runny nose, sore throat, cough, diarrhoea and lethargy.

In most areas, including the Outpatient Department, two people over the age of 12 years can visit a patient at a time. 
Due to space constraints and the need to maintain physical distancing, only one parent/carer can accompany a patient in certain signposted areas.
Siblings under the age of 12 years are unable to visit.
Where space permits, siblings of long stay patients (more than nine days in hospital) are encouraged to visit at a time pre-arranged with the ward’s nurse leader.

Join Georgie as she goes to a COVID-19 Testing Clinic. Where does she go? Who will she meet? What will she learn? Find out by following Georgie along her COVID-19 test journey.

This story is aimed at children 3 - 5 years of age to help them know about the different places that COVID-19 testing can be done and what they are likely to experience at a COVID-19 testing clinic. 

The booklet is a free download.

People are being urged not to eat wild mushrooms after a significant spike in exposures to the potentially deadly fungi.

Between February and May, the NSW Poisons Information Centre (which takes calls from NSW, ACT and Tasmania) recorded a 37 per cent increase in mushroom related calls compared to the same period last year, with 160 people hospitalised so far.

Hospitals are safer than ever and it’s important that children receive care without delay.

Dr Matthew O’Meara, NSW’s Chief Paediatrician and Emergency Staff Specialist at Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick answers some of your questions in the video below and encourages the community to seek medical help to avoid health complications.

With families spending more time at home during the COVID-19 outbreak, experts across the Network are reminding parents of the need to remain vigilant with supervision to ensure their home is as safe as possible for their children. Here are their top tips.

If an accident does occur, please be assured that all Emergency Departments are safe places. Parents are strongly encouraged to not delay their visit during the COVID-19 outbreak if their child requires urgent care.

BUTTON BATTERIES

Discussing COVID-19 with your child can be daunting even for healthcare experts. 

‘Hi. This is coronavirus’ is a children’s book developed by South Australia Health and reproduced by NSW Health (Copyright approval to reproduce the book was granted). 

With flu season approaching, now is a good time to have your child vaccinated. Influenza vaccination is recommended for children aged 6 months and older.

Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) offers free influenza vaccinations for its patients. If your child is due for a scheduled vaccination, this can also be done at one of SCHN’s immunisation clinics. Flu vaccinations are also available for immediate family members living in the same household.

Don’t delay, visit when you need us.                                                       

Having a sick child is never easy, but it’s important to quickly seek medical care to avoid health complications.

It’s completely understandable to feel anxious about catching COVID-19, but our hospitals are safe places, with our experts ready to care for your kids when they need us most.

If your child is unwell or injured, we’re here to help. Don’t delay, visit when you need us.

We are committed to protecting our patients, families and staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.