Our Services / COVID-19

COVID-19 services offered in Westbank of New Orleans, Marrero, LA

If your child develops a sore throat, a cough, or a fever that doesn’t break, don’t wait to get a COVID-19 test. The sooner your child receives a diagnosis, the sooner you can take steps to help them feel better. At Children’s Medical Clinic, pediatric and adolescent medicine physician Roselyn St. Etienne, MD, MBA, offers COVID-19 testing and COVID-19 immunizations to children and teens. To make an appointment for your child in Marrero, Louisiana, call the office or book online today.

COVID-19 Q & A

What is COVID-19?

COVID-19 is a contagious upper respiratory virus discovered in China at the end of 2019. Since then, it has spread worldwide, resulting in a global pandemic. There’s no way to prevent exposure to COVID entirely, but thanks to vaccines and therapeutics, it’s possible to avoid potentially serious outcomes like hospitalization.

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

Shortness of breath
Cough
Fever
Chills
Fatigue
Sore throat
Muscle aches and pains
Loss of taste/smell
Nausea/vomiting or diarrhea
Headache
Congestion or Rhinorrhea
Rash

If your child has COVID-19, they might also experience gastrointestinal symptoms, like nausea, diarrhea, or vomiting.

What should I do if I think my child has COVID-19?

If you think your child has COVID-19, make an appointment with Dr. St. Etienne immediately. Children’s Medical Clinic offers several types of COVID-19 testing, including:

Rapid antigen testing

A rapid antigen test analyzes a sample of your child’s mucus or saliva for the presence of viral proteins called antigens. If the test detects COVID-19 antigens, it means your child’s positive.

Rapid antigen tests provide results within 15 minutes, but false negatives can occur. If your child’s test comes back negative but they have symptoms of COVID-19, Dr. St. Etienne might also recommend a PCR test.

Polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) testing

PCR testing is very similar to rapid antigen testing. The difference is that a PCR test analyzes your child’s saliva or mucus for the presence of specific viral genes. PCR tests can detect multiple genes, which are considered more accurate than antigen tests. That said, results can take up to 48 hours.

How can I reduce my child’s risk of COVID-19?

The easiest way to reduce your child’s risk of COVID-19 is to get them vaccinated. Currently, COVID–19 vaccines are approved for children ages five and older.

If your child is younger than 5, there are still things you can do to protect them. The Centers for Disease Control recommends: