Coronavirus (COVID-19) Information for Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia Patients
Appointments in the BPD Clinic
Due to the complex nature of BPD, we have continued to recommend in-person visits to optimize patients’ care/outcomes and have taken the necessary precautions to do so safely. The standard visitor guidelines are in place for appointments which means siblings are not allowed to attend and only two care providers may come to the clinic appointments.
In case you or your child develops signs or symptoms of a COVID-19 infection, and you have an upcoming BPD clinic appointment, call our office (513-636-3882) ahead of time to discuss options for rescheduling and ensuring your child gets the appropriate follow-up. Please do not attend your visit if you or your child has active symptoms. For urgent pulmonary concerns, please call 513-636-6771 during normal business hours and have the nurse paged. For nights and weekends, please call 513-636-4200 and ask for the pulmonary fellow on call.
For the safety of our patients, families and employees, all patients seen in our clinics are screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the registration desk.
Specific Information for Patients with BPD
Since 2020 of the more than 200 patients followed in the BPD Center at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, approximately 1.5% of children with BPD were admitted with a COVID-19 infection. This appears similar to or lower than other common respiratory illnesses such as RSV (2%) and Rhinovirus (5%).
Careful discussion with your physicians about each individual case is the best advice that we can give. Please call your BPD provider if your child tests positive for COVID-19 and has respiratory symptoms. If your child has confirmed COVID-19 and requires increased oxygen, your BPD provider may start steroids. We recommend the COVID-19 vaccine for all patient with BPD older than 6 months who qualify. Other current medications used to treat COVID-19 such as anti-virals or monoclonal antibodies are not approved for use in children less than 12 years old.
As always, if your child is experiencing a life-threatening emergency, dial 911. Difficulty breathing is an emergency. Let the responder know that you are concerned about COVID-19 so appropriate precautions can be taken when the EMS comes to help.
You should continue to take all medicines as prescribed and continue with all routine clinic visits. If you need medication refills, please contact the office during normal business hours.
We recommend you use your judgement when taking your child for activities outside the home. We encourage all the recommended practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and your local health department. Mask wearing can reduce transmission of COVID-19 to you and your child and may reduce other respiratory infections, such as RSV, as well. Masks do not worsen your child’s breathing. For the latest information regarding protecting your child from COVID-19, please visit the Cincinnati Children’s COVID-19 Information website.
