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 accept every possible rubber precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-xix.

Aaron Milstone, M.D., Thousand.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'due south Centre and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks well-nigh COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to proceed babies and kids safe, the risk infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon simply serious condition that may be related to exposure to the virus.

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

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, keep to spread, particularly in areas with low rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and amidst populations such as children under five who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children as well immature to be vaccinated (and adults who have not received coronavirus vaccines) it is important to follow proven COVID-nineteen 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, only risk can be reduced by masking, distancing, hand washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathize that children infected with the coronavirus can 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 take occurred. That's why it is important to use precautions and preclude infection in children besides as adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-19?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, pass the illness to her baby. Infants can besides become infected shortly after being built-in. Co-ordinate to the U.Southward. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), almost newborns who test positive for the coronavirus accept balmy symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should accept actress precautions, including talking to your dr. about getting a COVID-nineteen vaccine, to avert the coronavirus.

There is no bear witness that the virus causing COVID-nineteen is present in chest milk simply because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-nineteen during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, information technology is very important to follow safe guidelines. Learn more almost COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Generally, COVID-19 symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may not have whatever signs of being ill at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Coughing
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Musculus or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or odour
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny olfactory organ

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

"People with flu-similar symptoms should be careful about exposing other people and should get tested to see if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus tin can likewise be important, as bachelor medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with flu."

Fever and cough are mutual COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more than likely to exist seen in adults. Children can accept pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can too experience sore pharynx, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

However, serious affliction in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay warning if their child 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 alert signs in a child:

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

Hand-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Hand-washing — forth with limiting exposure to people who are (or might be) ill with COVID-19 — is fundamental to keeping your children healthy. Our practiced shares how to properly wash hands and make it fun for the whole family.

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Data from the CDC written report indicate that some children may be at a higher risk for a serious case of COVID-19, needing medical intendance in a hospital:

  • Those nether age 2
  • Black and Latino children, who tin can be affected past wellness disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to severe COVID-19 complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you remember your child is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, specially if the kid has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care clinic if you lot don't accept a medico, and follow their instructions carefully regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

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

Call your family unit doctor or pediatrician right away if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than 24 hours and at to the lowest degree one of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A cherry-red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) hurting
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Cherry, croaky lips
  • Red optics
  • Swollen hands or feet

Learn more near MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How tin immunocompromised kids get the care they demand?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, says, "Your child's intendance team is your go-to resources. It's OK to enquire your kid'southward doctor about what specific steps they are taking to provide handling for your child while preventing COVID-19 and if getting your child vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some role visits and follow-ups may exist able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your child'south physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their treatment is of import to continue them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might exist aware of the fact that their bodies could take a harder time fighting the virus if they meet 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 whatever other respiratory disease, including the flu. In that location are no indications that nigh children with asthma feel severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, but detect them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the kid's doctor to talk over side by side steps and to arrange advisable evaluation as needed. Go along your child'south medications refilled and accept extra care to avoid things that fix off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are non expected to be more than susceptible to COVID-nineteen. Only poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the allowed organization, so parents and doctors should scout 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 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 risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, but most importantly, significantly reduces the chance of hospitalization and expiry from this and other variants."

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

Children historic period five and older who have certain medical atmospheric condition associated with immunosuppression tin can receive an additional dose 28 days after their second dose.

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

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Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-19

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

Maintain concrete distancing. The more people your kids come in contact with, and the longer the duration of that contact, the college the risk of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at to the lowest degree 6 feet from others outside of their household.
  • Check your kids' day intendance and schools (if they are open) to ensure concrete distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be sure the children wear masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health conditions.

Habiliment a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is one reason why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades Thousand-12, fifty-fifty for those who are fully vaccinated. Data continue to support the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before 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 subsequently coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds. "They can help keep track of time by singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to end," he says. If lather and water are not available, Milstone says the side by side all-time option is hand sanitizer containing at least 60% 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 modest reward, such as a sticker, to gloat each time they wash their easily. Compliment them for doing a really good job while washing their easily." It also helps when parents set an example by washing their own hands ofttimes.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know nearly Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus risk together

Though in most cases COVID-xix seems to have less serious wellness consequences for children than for adults, it is of import to avoid infection among children. Here's how parents and guardians can assistance:

Become all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-xix vaccinations every bit soon every bit they are eligible, and the same goes for flu shots and other vaccinations.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and exist on the lookout for serious affliction in kids.

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

Keep hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face as much as possible. Milstone says it tin can help if kids deport a toy that will keep their hands decorated, but he notes that parents should launder those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe downward toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when virtually a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at home and store cleaners in cabinets that are either too high for your child to achieve or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

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

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

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-xix)

What you need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.