COVID-19, Masks, Asthma and the Return to School

The topic of face masks or face coverings and their efficacy has rapidly morphed into one of the most divisive topics in American culture. Mandated by many government bodies in the U.S. and around the globe, these face coverings have been encouraged to slow the spread of COVID-19. Many providers may be wondering what advice they should give to kids with asthma regarding COVID-19 and returning to school.

Listen to a pediatric pulmonologist discuss kids with asthma, and what they should know about COVID-19, masks and the return to school

In this episode, we will discuss the American Academy of Pediatrics’ (AAP) guidance around pediatric patients and face coverings, considerations for patients with asthma and how these fit in with the return to school.

In this episode, we are joined by returning guest Monica Federico, MD, Medical Director of the Clinical Alignment and Asthma Programs at Children’s Hospital Colorado and Associate Professor of Pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• The effectiveness of masks for preventing the spread of the coronavirus
• How Dr. Federico is talking to patients with asthma about face coverings and their health and safety
• How Dr. Federico is handling requests for exemptions from wearing cloth face coverings
• The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) article that covers American with Disabilities Act (ADA) exemptions
• How to deal with kids who may be anxious about wearing a mask
• The importance of asthma control, flu vaccines and hand-washing for kids returning to school
• Whether COVID-19 has changed pulmonologists’ thinking about the upcoming respiratory season for kids, especially those with asthma
• The probability that COVID-19 will be a viral trigger for asthma attacks
• What pediatricians should be thinking about as they guide children and families in their return to school this year
• How Dr. Federico has been handling situations in which parents demand mask exemption letters or become adversarial in their demands for an exemption

Resources mentioned in podcast:

• Mask Exemptions During the COVID-19 Pandemic: A New Frontier for Clinicians, published by JAMA
• Cloth Face Coverings for Children During COVID-19 from the American Academy of Pediatrics

Treatment of infectious diseases at Children’s Colorado

Our pediatric experts in the Infectious Disease Program at Children's Colorado provide a breadth of expertise ranging from laboratory-based research to the treatment and prevention of infectious diseases. Pediatricians can treat many infectious diseases, but when unique or different symptoms are present, it’s important to refer to a pediatric specialist. We are prepared and ready to treat patients with suspected or confirmed 2019 novel coronavirus. Our clinical staff has been specially trained on how to identify, isolate and treat patients with this and other contagious illnesses.