COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

Reviewed Past:

Updated on February 17, 2022

Information technology is important for parents and kids to accept every possible safety precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, Chiliad.D., M.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an communicable diseases adept at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks well-nigh COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids condom, the chance infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon only 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 customs COVID-19 vaccination and amongst populations such as children under 5 who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children as well young to be vaccinated (and adults who have not received coronavirus vaccines) it is important to follow proven COVID-19 precautions such equally mask wearing when in public, indoor places to reduce the risk of condign infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, simply gamble can be reduced past masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathise 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 ill with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'south why it is important to utilise precautions and prevent infection in children equally well as adults.

Tin newborns and babies get COVID-19?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the affliction to her baby. Infants tin can also go infected before long after existence born. Co-ordinate to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who examination positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, just serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should take extra precautions, including talking to your physician about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

In that location is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in breast milk but because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, information technology is very of import to follow condom guidelines. Learn more nigh 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 being ill at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of jiff 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 nose

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

"People with influenza-like symptoms should be careful about exposing other people and should go tested to run across if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also be of import, as available medicines tin assist reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and cough are common COVID-nineteen symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of jiff is more likely to be seen in adults. Children tin can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can likewise experience sore pharynx, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

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

Children with COVID-19: When to Telephone 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
  • Inability to keep down any liquids
  • New confusion or disability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Mitt-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

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

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-nineteen in Children

Data from the CDC study bespeak that some children may exist at a college risk for a serious case of COVID-xix, needing medical care in a hospital:

  • Those under historic period ii
  • Black and Latino children, who tin can exist affected by health disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to severe COVID-xix complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you remember 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 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 called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Call your family doctor or pediatrician correct away if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more than that lasts more than than 24 hours and at least i of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A cherry rash
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Scarlet, cracked lips
  • Red optics
  • Swollen hands or anxiety

Learn more nigh MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How can immunocompromised kids become the care they demand?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, says, "Your child'south care team is your go-to resources. It's OK to inquire your child'southward doctor near what specific steps they are taking to provide handling for your kid 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'southward physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their treatment is of import 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 encounter information technology.

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

Asthma: Children with asthma may accept more severe symptoms from COVID-19 or whatever other respiratory disease, including the flu. At that place are no indications that virtually children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, but observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, phone call the kid's medico to hash out next steps and to arrange advisable evaluation as needed. Go along your child's medications refilled and take actress care to avoid things that ready off asthma attacks in your kid.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more susceptible to COVID-nineteen. But poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune organization, 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-nineteen

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-xix. 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, just 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 five 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 can receive an boosted dose 28 days later their 2nd dose.

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

Let'southward Talk Health (Hablemos de Sauld) | The New Normal for Kids: During COVID-19 - Part I

Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-xix

While a vaccine may exist authorized for children nether 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 exist) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Here are 3 of the best ways to protect your kids from infection.

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

  • Children should stay at least 6 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 exist sure the children wear masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health weather.

Wearable 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 Chiliad-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 help younger children practise wearing masks before returning to school and then kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Hand hygiene. Kids should wash their easily after using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their olfactory organ, before eating (even snacks) and immediately after coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to launder their hands regularly, with soap and warm water, for at least 20 seconds. "They can help go on rails of time by singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to finish," he says. If lather and water are not available, Milstone says the adjacent best option is mitt sanitizer containing at least lx% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or becoming very upset when asked to do so, information technology might help to give them a pocket-size reward, such every bit a sticker, to celebrate each fourth dimension they wash their hands. Compliment them for doing a really good job while washing their hands." It likewise helps when parents gear up an example by washing their own easily frequently.

v Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus risk together

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

Get all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations as soon equally 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 lookout for serious affliction in kids.

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

Continue hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face every bit much as possible. Milstone says it can help if kids carry a toy that volition proceed their hands busy, but he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things make clean. Wipe downward toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when well-nigh a person who is ill. 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 unit tin help place specific fears and clarify the facts. It besides 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 feel 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 need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.