COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on Feb 17, 2022

Information technology is important for parents and kids to take every possible rubber precaution and empathise all risks and symptoms related to COVID-nineteen.

Aaron Milstone, Chiliad.D., M.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'due south Center and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids safe, the adventure 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 about coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, continue to spread, particularly in areas with depression rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and among populations such equally children nether 5 who cannot even so be vaccinated.

For children also young to exist 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 condign infected with the coronavirus.

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

In rare cases, children infected with the coronavirus tin can develop a serious lung infection and become very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'south why it is important to utilise precautions and prevent infection in children also as adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-19?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the illness to her babe. Infants tin can also become infected shortly later existence born. Co-ordinate to the U.S. Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who exam positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, merely serious cases have occurred. Significant women should accept actress precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no prove that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in breast milk but considering at that place is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory aerosol, it is very of import to follow condom guidelines. Learn more nearly COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Mostly, COVID-19 symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may not accept 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
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of taste or scent
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or airsickness
  • Congestion or runny nose

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

"People with flu-similar symptoms should be careful about exposing other people and should get tested to come across if they accept COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also be of import, as available medicines can assistance reduce symptoms in those with flu."

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

However, serious illness in children with COVID-xix 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 Call 911

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

  • Difficulty animate or catching his or her breath
  • Inability to keep down whatsoever liquids
  • New confusion or inability to awaken
  • Bluish 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 be) sick with COVID-19 — is cardinal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash easily and brand information technology fun for the whole family unit.

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Information from the CDC study indicate that some children may be at a higher risk for a serious case of COVID-19, needing medical care in a hospital:

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

If you think your child is ill with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care dispensary if you don't accept a doctor, 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 subsequently an infection with the coronavirus.

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

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Ruby-red, cracked lips
  • Red eyes
  • Swollen easily or feet

Learn more nigh MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How can immunocompromised kids get the care they demand?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, says, "Your child'due south care team is your get-to resource. It'southward OK to inquire your kid's dr. 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 part visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your child's concrete presence. "Parents can remind children that their handling is of import to go on them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might be aware of the fact that their bodies could accept a harder time fighting the virus if they run into information technology.

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

Asthma: Children with asthma may have more than severe symptoms from COVID-19 or any other respiratory disease, including the influenza. There are no indications that about children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, but observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, telephone call the child's doc to discuss next steps and to suit appropriate evaluation equally needed. Keep your kid'southward medications refilled and take extra care to avert things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood carbohydrate is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more susceptible to COVID-xix. Merely poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune organisation, so parents and doctors should scout these children advisedly for signs and symptoms that may require 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 in that location 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 almost importantly, significantly reduces the risk of hospitalization and death from this and other variants."

Children age 12 or older who accept received both required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at least 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 later on their second dose.

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

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Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-nineteen

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

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

Article of clothing 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 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 form.

Hand hygiene. Kids should wash their hands afterwards using the bath, sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, before eating (even snacks) and immediately after coming within from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their easily regularly, with soap and warm h2o, for at least 20 seconds. "They can aid go on runway of time past singing the ABCs, which takes virtually 20 seconds to stop," he says. If lather and water are not bachelor, Milstone says the next best choice is hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or condign very upset when asked to do so, it 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 really good job while washing their hands." It also helps when parents set an case by washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families tin reduce coronavirus risk together

Though in most cases COVID-xix seems to take less serious health consequences for children than for adults, information technology is important to avoid infection among children. Here's how parents and guardians can assistance:

Go all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations as soon 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 picket for serious disease in kids.

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

Keep easily off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their confront as much as possible. Milstone says it can assistance if kids comport a toy that will keep their easily decorated, only he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe downwardly toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when nearly a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at home and shop cleaners in cabinets that are either too high for your child to reach or are secured with childproof chiffonier locks.

Address anxiety and stress. Talking things over as a family can aid place specific fears and analyze the facts. It too helps for families to talk over a programme in instance someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

"Children will look to yous when deciding how to feel near COVID-19. If y'all feel calm and prepared, they are likely to feel similarly," Milstone notes.

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-nineteen)

What yous need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.