Hills Pediatrics

We offer COVID-19 testing!!!

Bother nasal swab testing and antibody testing are available for our patients.

Novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) is now a worldwide pandemic. This virus causes more deaths than the flu infection (10-20 times more lethal) and is unfortunately much more contagious than the flu. 

 Main symptoms of Covid-19:

Severe cough (dry cough or productive cough), fever and shortness of breath. Some patients may have runny nose, throat pain or diarrhea.

Severity of Covid-19:

20% of patients who are sick will need hospitalization, including admission to ICU. About 1% of sick patients may die from Covid-19 related respiratory failure or multi-organ failure. Death rate is more than 8% in Italy as of 03/20/2020. Death rate is much higher when there is influx of too many patients to the health care system at the same time.

Who are at risk:

Everyone! Not just the old population or people with diabetes, hypertension or other underlying medical problems.

More patients in the ICU for Covid-19 infection are younger than 60 years old in France.

Many previously healthy young doctors and nurses have died from Covid-19 in China.

Covid-19 may cause permanent lung damage.

Patients with asthma:

Patients with asthma are at high risk for severe Covid-19 infection. It is especially important that such patients go over their asthma action plan with their primary care doctors. Their doctors shall determine whether they need to use preventive medicine, such as inhaled corticosteroids. Besides taking precautions to prevent Covid-19 infection, asthma patients should avoid triggers to their asthma.

Asthma patients should inform the hospital doctors about their medical history. This will help the doctors optimize their treatment plan, such as inclusion of systemic steroids in their treatment protocols.

Sometimes, asthma can be difficult to diagnose. Patients may simply present with prolonged stubborn cough after a respiratory illness, or severe cough after exercise. Some patients present with cough after being outdoors when it is windy or with high pollen counts.

Dr. Jiang is very experienced in asthma management. If you have asthma or have asthma like symptoms, you may request a consultation with Dr. Jiang today so you will be well prepared in this Covid-19 pandemic.

Prevention of Covid-19:

Coronavirus is very contagious. Patients may spread the disease even during incubation period. Social distancing is important. Avoid public places and keep 6 feet of distance from each other. 

Wash your hands often and thoroughly. Try not to touch your face in public places.

Covid-19 is a severe respiratory illness. Therefore wearing facial masks in public places is important. Please reserve N95 masks to frontline health care workers.

Eat a balanced diet. Eat well cooked food. Covid-19 patients shed viruses in their stool, potentially causing fecal oral transmission of the disease.

If you are not feeling well, call your primary care doctor. Do not go to the ER unless you are experiencing a medical emergency. Hospitals may get overcrowded during Covid-19 pandemic. Patients may get cross contamination with coronavirus.

It is very important that all of us take precautions so we do not go to the hosptals at the same time. We should avoid running out of hospital beds, ventilators, and protective gear for health care workers. 

Useful links:

www.coronainusa.com. This website tells you exactly where coronavirus cases are in the US.

www.CDC.gov. This website gives you updates on the coronavirus.

Together we will win!