Mayo Clinic in Rochester eased restrictions for hospitalized pediatric patients, effective Monday, Feb. 7. The number of visitors per pediatric inpatient ― those hospital patients age 18 and under ― is limited to two consistent designated visitors. Visitors must be at least 16 years old and are allowed to visit at any time for the duration of the hospitalization, including overnight. A responsible adult must accompany all visitors under age 18.
Information about the COVID-19 pandemic is ever-evolving, and it can be difficult to keep track of what's fact and what's fiction. Mayo Clinic experts will continue to be a reliable resource for the latest, credible COVID-19 information.
DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My cousin was diagnosed with COVID-19 last summer and received monoclonal antibody therapy. Another one of my cousins recently was diagnosed with COVID-19 but did not get that treatment. What treatments for COVID-19 are available?
If you are planning a winter vacation or getaway, knowing what to expect and what you will need to do prior to travel due to COVID-19 is important. "There are some simple guidelines that people can follow to enjoy their time away from home and to return without COVID-19 and avoid its attendant complications or disruptions," says Dr. Abinash Virk, a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist.
Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart, is usually caused by a virus. It can reduce the heart's ability to pump, causing rapid or abnormal heart rhythms, or arrhythmias. In many cases, myocarditis improves on its own or with treatment. But health care providers often advise athletes to steer clear from activity for several months.
More than two full years of living in the COVID-19 pandemic has taken its toll on children and their families. During the most recent omicron surge, pediatric infection rates were particularly concerning for pediatricians across the country. Parents of children younger than 5 years of age are feeling especially concerned, as vaccines have not yet been approved in this age group. But that may change soon, as Pfizer has recently submitted a request to the Food and Drug Administration for emergency use authorization of its COVID-19 vaccine for kids 6 months to 5 years old.