COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

Reviewed Past:

Updated on February 17, 2022

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

Aaron Milstone, M.D., Thou.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an communicable diseases expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks well-nigh COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to go along babies and kids rubber, the hazard infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon but serious condition that may be related to exposure to the virus.

What should parents know well-nigh coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, continue to spread, particularly in areas with low rates of community COVID-nineteen vaccination and amid populations such as children under v who cannot yet exist vaccinated.

For children too young to exist vaccinated (and adults who have non received coronavirus vaccines) information technology is important to follow proven COVID-19 precautions such equally mask wearing when in public, indoor places to reduce the chance of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, simply take a chance can be reduced by masking, distancing, paw washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should understand that children infected with the coronavirus tin develop complications requiring hospitalization, and can 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 accept occurred. That'south why it is important to use precautions and forestall infection in children as well as adults.

Can newborns and babies become COVID-xix?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, pass the disease to her baby. Infants can too become infected before long after existence built-in. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus take mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred. Significant women should take extra precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-xix is nowadays in breast milk merely because at that place is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very of import to follow condom guidelines. Learn more about COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Generally, COVID-xix symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may not have any signs of existence sick at all.

COVID-nineteen symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Coughing
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty animate
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

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

"People with flu-like symptoms should be careful nigh exposing other people and should get tested to see if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus tin also exist of import, every bit available medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with flu."

Fever and coughing are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of jiff is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can take pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also experience 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 disease.

Children with COVID-nineteen: When to Call 911

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

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • Disability to keep downward any liquids
  • New confusion or inability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Paw-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Hand-washing — forth with limiting exposure to people who are (or might be) sick with COVID-19 — is key to keeping your children good for you. Our good shares how to properly wash easily and arrive fun for the whole family.

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Information from the CDC report indicate that some children may be at a college take chances for a serious case of COVID-19, needing medical care in a hospital:

  • Those under historic period 2
  • Black and Latino children, who can be affected past wellness disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to severe COVID-nineteen complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung affliction

If you think your child is ill with COVID-19, trust your instinct, specially if the kid has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care dispensary if y'all don't have a physician, and follow their instructions carefully regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Doctors take noted that some children may feel a condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C later an infection with the coronavirus.

Telephone call your family physician or pediatrician right away if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more than that lasts more than 24 hours and at least i of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A red rash
  • Abdominal (abdomen) hurting
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Red, cracked lips
  • Ruddy eyes
  • Swollen hands or feet

Larn more than nearly MIS-C.

Children with Medical Weather

How tin immunocompromised kids get the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Centre, says, "Your child's care team is your go-to resources. It's OK to ask your kid'south physician about what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your child while preventing COVID-xix and if getting your child vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some part visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, just other treatments require your child's physical presence. "Parents tin remind children that their treatment is important to keep them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might be aware of the fact that their bodies could take a harder time fighting the virus if they encounter it.

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

Asthma: Children with asthma may have more severe symptoms from COVID-19 or whatever other respiratory disease, including the influenza. There are no indications that near children with asthma feel astringent symptoms due to the coronavirus, just observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child's doctor to discuss side by side steps and to conform appropriate evaluation as needed. Go on your child's medications refilled and take actress care to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your kid.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are non expected to exist more susceptible to COVID-nineteen. 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-19

Have your kid vaccinated for COVID

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

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces take a chance of infection, but most importantly, significantly reduces the hazard of hospitalization and death from this and other variants."

Children age 12 or older who have received both required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at to the lowest degree 5 months ago can receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

Children age 5 and older who accept certain medical conditions associated with immunosuppression tin receive an boosted dose 28 days after their second dose.

Learn more about the COVID-nineteen vaccine and what parents need to know.

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

Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-19

While a vaccine may be authorized for children under 5 in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best mode to keep them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might be) sick with the coronavirus, including family unit members. Here are three of the best means to protect your kids from infection.

Maintain physical distancing. The more people your kids come up in contact with, and the longer the elapsing of that contact, the higher the run a risk of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at least vi feet from others outside of their household.
  • Check your kids' day 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 habiliment masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit shut contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health conditions.

Wear a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is i reason why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades Yard-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data keep to support the value of masking in schools to foreclose infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before returning to school so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Paw hygiene. Kids should wash their hands after using the bath, sneezing, cough or blowing their nose, before eating (even snacks) and immediately later on coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to launder their hands regularly, with lather and warm water, for at least 20 seconds. "They can help proceed rail of time past singing the ABCs, which takes near twenty seconds to end," he says. If soap and water are not bachelor, Milstone says the next best option is mitt sanitizer containing at least sixty% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or becoming very upset when asked to practise so, information technology might help to give them a small reward, such as a sticker, to celebrate each fourth dimension they wash their hands. Compliment them for doing a actually adept chore while washing their easily." It also helps when parents prepare an example by washing their ain hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families tin reduce coronavirus run a risk together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to have less serious wellness consequences for children than for adults, information technology is important to avoid infection amid children. Hither's how parents and guardians can assist:

Get all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-nineteen vaccinations every bit soon as they are eligible, and the same goes for influenza shots and other vaccinations.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-xix and exist on the lookout for serious disease in kids.

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

Continue hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their confront as much equally possible. Milstone says it can help if kids behave a toy that will keep their easily busy, but he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Proceed things make clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when near a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at dwelling and store cleaners in cabinets that are either too high for your kid to reach or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

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

"Children volition look to you when deciding how to experience about COVID-19. If you feel calm and prepared, they are likely to feel similarly," Milstone notes.

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What you demand to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.