COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on February 17, 2022

Information technology 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., M.H.Due south., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'south Center and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about COVID-xix symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids safe, the run a risk 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 nearly coronavirus variants in babies and children?

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

For children too young to exist vaccinated (and adults who take 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, simply risk tin can be reduced by masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathise 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 ill with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That's why it is important to employ precautions and prevent infection in children as well as adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-xix?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus tin, in very rare cases, laissez passer the disease to her baby. Infants tin can also become infected soon after beingness built-in. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC), near newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, simply serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should accept extra precautions, including talking to your physician about getting a COVID-xix vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in chest milk simply considering there is a possibility of spreading COVID-nineteen during breastfeeding through respiratory aerosol, it is very important to follow safety guidelines. Learn more nigh COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Mostly, COVID-xix symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may non 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 smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or airsickness
  • Congestion or runny olfactory organ

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

"People with flu-similar symptoms should be careful nigh exposing other people and should go tested to come across if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can likewise be important, equally available medicines can aid reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

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

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

Children with COVID-19: When to Call 911

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

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • Inability to keep down any 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) sick with COVID-19 — is primal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash hands and go far fun for the whole family unit.

Run a risk Factors for Serious COVID-xix 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 care in a hospital:

  • Those under age ii
  • Black and Latino children, who can be afflicted by health disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to astringent COVID-19 complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung illness

If you call up your kid is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care clinic if yous don't have a doc, and follow their instructions carefully regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Doctors accept noted that some children may feel a condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after 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 least one of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) hurting
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Red, croaky lips
  • Red eyes
  • Bloated easily or feet

Larn more nearly MIS-C.

Children with Medical Atmospheric condition

How tin can immunocompromised kids go the care they need?

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

Some function visits and follow-ups may exist able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your kid's physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their handling is of import to go along them salubrious, 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 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 any other respiratory affliction, including the flu. There are no indications that most children with asthma experience astringent symptoms due to the coronavirus, but observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child's dr. to discuss adjacent steps and to arrange advisable evaluation as needed. Keep your child'due south medications refilled and take actress intendance 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 exist more susceptible to COVID-xix. But poorly controlled diabetes tin weaken the allowed system, so parents and doctors should watch these children carefully for signs and symptoms that may crave 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 hazard of infection, but most importantly, significantly reduces the risk 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 least 5 months ago tin 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 have sure medical weather condition associated with immunosuppression tin can receive an additional dose 28 days after their second dose.

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

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Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-xix

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

  • Children should stay at least vi feet from others outside of their household.
  • Cheque your kids' solar day care and schools (if they are open) to ensure concrete distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be certain the children clothing masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with wellness weather condition.

Habiliment 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 University of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades Yard-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data go along to back up the value of masking in schools to forbid infections. Milstone suggests that parents aid younger children practice wearing masks before returning to schoolhouse so kids are comfy wearing them in course.

Paw hygiene. Kids should wash their hands after using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, before eating (even snacks) and immediately afterwards 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 fourth dimension by singing the ABCs, which takes virtually 20 seconds to finish," he says. If lather and water are non available, Milstone says the side by side best option is mitt sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Kids who cramp. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or condign very upset when asked to do then, it might aid to give them a pocket-size advantage, such as a sticker, to gloat each time they wash their hands. Compliment them for doing a really proficient job while washing their easily." It also helps when parents set an case past washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families tin reduce coronavirus take chances together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to have 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 aid:

Become all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations equally soon equally they are eligible, and the aforementioned goes for influenza shots and other vaccinations.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-nineteen and be on the picket for serious disease in kids.

Coughing and sneeze with care. "Encourage anybody in the family unit to coughing and sneeze into their elbow, instead of their hands, and to launder their easily 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 aid if kids carry a toy that will go along their hands busy, but he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe downwards toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, particularly when traveling or when well-nigh a person who is sick. Make clean surfaces at domicile and shop cleaners in cabinets that are either as well high for your child to reach or are secured with childproof chiffonier locks.

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

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

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What y'all demand to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.