COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on February 17, 2022

COVID-nineteen cases among babies and children remain high, co-ordinate to data from the American University of Pediatrics. It is important for parents and kids to have every possible rubber precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, 1000.D., One thousand.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'due south Middle and an communicable diseases expert at The Johns Hopkins Infirmary, talks about COVID-nineteen symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids safe, the hazard infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon but serious condition that may exist 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, continue to spread, peculiarly in areas with low rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and amid populations such as children under v who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children also young to exist vaccinated (and adults who have not 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 condign infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but risk can exist reduced by masking, distancing, paw washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should understand that children infected with the coronavirus tin 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 go very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'south why it is important to use precautions and foreclose infection in children besides equally adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-19?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the disease to her baby. Infants can also become infected shortly after being built-in. 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. Significant women should have extra precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

At that place is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in breast milk but because at that place is a possibility of spreading COVID-nineteen during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, information technology is very of import to follow rubber guidelines. Acquire more about COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

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

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Musculus or body aches
  • Sore pharynx
  • New loss of taste or scent
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

Some symptoms of COVID-xix and the flu are shared and information technology may be hard to make up one's mind which of either might be present.

"People with flu-like symptoms should be careful most exposing other people and should get tested to run into if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also be important, as available medicines can aid reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and cough 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 tin also experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

All the same, serious affliction in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay alert if their child is diagnosed with, or shows signs of, the disease.

Children with COVID-19: When to Telephone call 911

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

  • Difficulty breathing or communicable his or her breath
  • Inability to keep down whatever liquids
  • New confusion or inability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Manus-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

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

Take a chance Factors for Serious COVID-nineteen in Children

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

  • Those nether age two
  • Blackness and Latino children, who tin be affected by health disparities, leaving them unduly vulnerable to severe COVID-19 complications
  • Children who were built-in prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung affliction

If you retrieve your child is ill with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the kid has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family unit care practitioner or urgent intendance clinic if yous don't have a doctor, 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 after an infection with the coronavirus.

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

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A crimson rash
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Airsickness and diarrhea
  • Red, cracked lips
  • Reddish eyes
  • Swollen hands or feet

Acquire more than almost MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How can immunocompromised kids get the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, says, "Your kid'south care team is your go-to resource. It's OK to inquire your child'southward md virtually 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, but other treatments require your child'southward physical presence. "Parents can 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 have a harder fourth dimension fighting the virus if they run into 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 whatsoever other respiratory affliction, including the flu. At that place are no indications that most children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, but observe them advisedly and, if symptoms develop, call the child'southward doctor to discuss next steps and to arrange advisable evaluation every bit needed. Go along your kid'southward medications refilled and have actress care to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Command 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 picket these children carefully for signs and symptoms that may crave evaluation.

How to Protect Your Kids from the Coronavirus and COVID-19

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 v and older.

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

Children historic period 12 or older who have received both required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 5 months ago tin 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 have sure medical conditions associated with immunosuppression tin can receive an additional dose 28 days later their second dose.

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

Let'due south Talk Health (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 under 5 in the adjacent few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best fashion to proceed 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 iii of the all-time ways 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 take chances of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at least half-dozen feet from others outside of their household.
  • Bank check your kids' 24-hour interval intendance and schools (if they are open up) to ensure physical distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be sure the children clothing masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health weather.

Wear 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 University of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades K-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data continue to support the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents assistance younger children do wearing masks earlier returning to school and then kids are comfy wearing them in class.

Hand hygiene. Kids should wash their hands after using the bathroom, sneezing, cough or bravado their nose, earlier eating (fifty-fifty snacks) and immediately after coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with soap and warm water, for at least twenty seconds. "They tin can aid keep rails of time by singing the ABCs, which takes nigh xx seconds to cease," he says. If soap and water are not bachelor, Milstone says the next all-time selection is hand sanitizer containing at least lx% alcohol.

Kids who cramp. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or becoming very upset when asked to exercise so, information technology might aid to requite them a small-scale reward, such as a sticker, to celebrate each time they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a really good job while washing their hands." It also helps when parents set an example by washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know near Covid-19

Kids and families tin reduce coronavirus take a chance together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to have less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avert infection among children. Here's how parents and guardians can help:

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

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

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

Go along hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face as much as possible. Milstone says information technology tin can help if kids conduct a toy that volition proceed their easily busy, merely he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe down 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 reach or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

Address anxiety and stress. Talking things over as a family can help identify specific fears and analyze the facts. Information technology besides helps for families to discuss a plan in instance someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

"Children will look to y'all when deciding how to feel near 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 need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.