COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on February 17, 2022

It is important for parents and kids to take every possible safety precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, Yard.D., M.H.South., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Heart and an communicable diseases practiced at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to continue babies and kids safe, the risk infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon merely serious condition that may be related to exposure to the virus.

What should parents know virtually coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, keep to spread, specially in areas with low rates of community COVID-xix vaccination and amongst populations such as children under v who cannot nevertheless be vaccinated.

For children likewise immature to be vaccinated (and adults who have not received coronavirus vaccines) it is important to follow proven COVID-19 precautions such as mask wearing when in public, indoor places to reduce the chance of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but risk tin can exist reduced by masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should understand that children infected with the coronavirus can develop complications requiring hospitalization, and tin transmit the virus to others.

In rare cases, children infected with the coronavirus can develop a serious lung infection and become very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'due south why information technology is important to utilize precautions and foreclose infection in children as well equally adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-nineteen?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, pass the disease to her baby. Infants can as well become infected soon after beingness born. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should accept actress precautions, including talking to your doctor well-nigh getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is nowadays in breast milk only because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, information technology is very important to follow safety guidelines. Learn more about COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

By and large, COVID-19 symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may not have any signs of beingness sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of jiff or difficulty animate
  • Muscle or torso aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of sense of taste or scent
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

Some symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are shared and it may be difficult to determine which of either might be nowadays.

"People with influenza-similar symptoms should be careful virtually exposing other people and should get tested to see if they take COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus tin can besides be of import, as available medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with flu."

Fever and cough are common COVID-xix symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of jiff is more likely to be seen in adults. Children tin have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They tin also feel sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

However, serious illness in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay alert if their kid is diagnosed with, or shows signs of, the affliction.

Children with COVID-xix: When to Call 911

Parents or guardians should immediately seek urgent or emergency medical care if they notice these alarm signs in a child:

  • Difficulty animate or communicable his or her breath
  • Inability to keep downwardly whatever liquids
  • New confusion or disability to awaken
  • Blueish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Hand-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Paw-washing — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might exist) ill with COVID-19 — is key to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash hands and make information technology fun for the whole family unit.

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Information from the CDC study bespeak that some children may exist at a higher risk for a serious example of COVID-nineteen, needing medical care in a hospital:

  • Those under age ii
  • Black and Latino children, who tin exist affected by health disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to severe COVID-19 complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung affliction

If y'all think your child is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family unit intendance practitioner or urgent intendance dispensary if you don't have a md, and follow their instructions carefully regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Doctors have noted that some children may experience a condition chosen multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Call your family doctor or pediatrician right away if your child experiences a fever of 100.iv degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than than 24 hours and at least one of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A blood-red rash
  • Intestinal (belly) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Cherry, cracked lips
  • Blood-red eyes
  • Bloated easily or feet

Learn more about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Weather

How can immunocompromised kids get the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children'southward Eye, says, "Your child'due south care squad is your get-to resource. Information technology's OK to ask your child'due south doctor about what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your child while preventing COVID-19 and if getting your child vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some office visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your child'southward physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their handling is of import to go on them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might exist enlightened of the fact that their bodies could have a harder time fighting the virus if they encounter it.

Parents tin can reassure them that hospitals are aware of patients' vulnerabilities, and are prepared and using precautions."

Asthma: Children with asthma may have more astringent symptoms from COVID-19 or any other respiratory disease, including the flu. There are no indications that virtually children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, only observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child's doctor to talk over next steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation as needed. Continue your child's medications refilled and have extra care to avert things that set off asthma attacks in your kid.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more susceptible to COVID-19. But poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune system, so parents and doctors should watch these children carefully for signs and symptoms that may require evaluation.

How to Protect Your Kids from the Coronavirus and COVID-nineteen

Have your child vaccinated for COVID

Experts, including those at Johns Hopkins, believe that there are many benefits to vaccinating children for COVID-19. The CDC recommends vaccines for children 5 and older.

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high adventure of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces run a risk of infection, merely nigh importantly, significantly reduces the gamble of hospitalization and expiry from this and other variants."

Children age 12 or older who have received both required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least v months agone can receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the merely vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

Children historic period five and older who accept certain medical conditions associated with immunosuppression can receive an additional dose 28 days after their second dose.

Acquire more than about the COVID-19 vaccine and what parents need to know.

Let's Talk Wellness (Hablemos de Sauld) | The New Normal for Kids: During COVID-19 - Office I

Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-nineteen

While a vaccine may be authorized for children nether v in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best way to go along them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might be) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Here are iii of the best ways to protect your kids from infection.

Maintain physical distancing. The more people your kids come in contact with, and the longer the duration of that contact, the higher the chance of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at to the lowest degree six feet from others exterior of their household.
  • Check your kids' twenty-four hours care and schools (if they are open) to ensure physical distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be sure the children vesture masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health conditions.

Wearable a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is one reason why the Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades K-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data go on to support the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents assistance younger children practice wearing masks earlier returning to school so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Manus hygiene. Kids should wash their easily after using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, earlier eating (even snacks) and immediately after coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to launder their easily regularly, with soap and warm water, for at least xx seconds. "They can assistance keep track of time by singing the ABCs, which takes about twenty seconds to finish," he says. If soap and water are not available, Milstone says the side by side best option is hand sanitizer containing at least sixty% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their easily or becoming very upset when asked to do then, information technology might aid to give them a minor advantage, such equally a sticker, to celebrate each fourth dimension they wash their easily. Compliment them for doing a really skillful job while washing their hands." Information technology likewise helps when parents set an example past washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know nearly Covid-19

Kids and families tin can reduce coronavirus take chances together

Though in virtually cases COVID-19 seems to have less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avoid infection amidst children. Here's how parents and guardians tin assistance:

Get all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations as shortly as they are eligible, and the same goes for flu shots and other vaccinations.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and be on the sentinel for serious illness in kids.

Cough and sneeze with care. "Encourage everyone in the family to cough and sneeze into their elbow, instead of their hands, and to wash their hands after each time this occurs," Milstone says. "Throw away tissues subsequently they are used," he adds.

Keep easily off faces. Parents should remind children to avert touching their face up as much as possible. Milstone says it tin assistance if kids carry a toy that will proceed their easily busy, but he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things make clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your kid touches regularly, specially when traveling or when near a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at home and store cleaners in cabinets that are either as well high for your kid to reach or are secured with childproof chiffonier locks.

Address anxiety and stress. Talking things over as a family can help place specific fears and clarify the facts. It also helps for families to discuss a plan in case someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

"Children volition expect to y'all when deciding how to feel about COVID-19. If yous experience calm and prepared, they are likely to feel similarly," Milstone notes.

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What yous need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.