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 take every possible rubber precaution and empathize all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, Yard.D., M.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an communicable diseases skillful at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks near COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids safe, 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 almost coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, go on to spread, particularly in areas with low rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and among populations such as children nether 5 who cannot nonetheless exist vaccinated.

For children too young to be vaccinated (and adults who have not received coronavirus vaccines) it is important to follow proven COVID-nineteen 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, but risk tin can exist reduced by masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should empathize 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 have occurred. That's why information technology is of import to employ precautions and prevent infection in children as well as adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-nineteen?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus tin can, in very rare cases, pass the illness to her baby. Infants tin can also get infected soon after existence born. Co-ordinate to the U.South. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have balmy symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should take extra precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avert the coronavirus.

In that location is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-nineteen is present in breast milk but because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very important to follow safety guidelines. Learn more near COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Generally, COVID-nineteen symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may non have any signs of being sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Coughing
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of gustation or scent
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • 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 be nowadays.

"People with flu-like symptoms should exist conscientious nearly exposing other people and should get tested to run into if they accept COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also be of import, as available medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with flu."

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 can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also experience sore pharynx, 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 alert signs in a child:

  • Difficulty breathing or communicable his or her breath
  • Inability to go along downward 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 exist) sick with COVID-19 — is primal to keeping your children healthy. Our good shares how to properly wash hands and make it fun for the whole family.

Gamble Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Data from the CDC study indicate that some children may be at a college risk for a serious instance of COVID-xix, needing medical care in a infirmary:

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

If yous remember your child is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, specially if the child has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family unit care practitioner or urgent care clinic if you don't have a doctor, and follow their instructions advisedly regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

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

Phone call your family medico or pediatrician correct away if your kid 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 red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Red, cracked lips
  • Red eyes
  • Swollen hands or anxiety

Learn more than about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How tin immunocompromised kids become the care they need?

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

Some office visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, only other treatments crave your child's physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their treatment is of import to keep them salubrious, 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 it.

Parents tin 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-nineteen or whatever other respiratory disease, including the flu. There are no indications that most children with asthma feel astringent symptoms due to the coronavirus, simply observe them advisedly and, if symptoms develop, call the child's doctor to talk over side by side steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation as needed. Go on your kid'southward medications refilled and take extra intendance to avert things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is primal. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to exist more susceptible to COVID-19. But poorly controlled diabetes tin weaken the immune system, then parents and doctors should sentinel 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 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 loftier risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, but virtually chiefly, 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 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 have certain medical conditions associated with immunosuppression tin receive an additional dose 28 days later their second dose.

Learn more almost 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 v in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the all-time mode to continue them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might exist) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Here are three 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 duration of that contact, the higher the chance 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 concrete distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be sure the children habiliment masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health weather condition.

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 Command and Prevention (CDC) and the American University of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades Grand-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 practise wearing masks before returning to schoolhouse so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Mitt hygiene. Kids should wash their hands afterward using the bathroom, sneezing, cough or blowing their nose, earlier eating (even snacks) and immediately later on coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their easily regularly, with lather and warm water, for at least xx seconds. "They can help keep runway of time by singing the ABCs, which takes about xx seconds to finish," he says. If soap and water are not bachelor, Milstone says the side by side best selection is hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your kid is refusing to wash their hands or becoming very upset when asked to practise so, it might help to give them a modest reward, such equally a sticker, to celebrate each time they wash their hands. 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 often.

5 Tips Kids Demand to Know well-nigh Covid-nineteen

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus adventure together

Though in most cases COVID-nineteen seems to have less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avert infection amid children. Hither'due south how parents and guardians can assist:

Get all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-nineteen vaccinations every bit soon as they are eligible, and the aforementioned goes for flu shots and other vaccinations.

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

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

Keep easily off faces. Parents should remind children to avert touching their face as much equally possible. Milstone says it tin can aid if kids deport a toy that will go on their hands busy, but he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, particularly when traveling or when nearly a person who is sick. Make clean surfaces at abode and store cleaners in cabinets that are either too high for your child to accomplish or are secured with childproof chiffonier locks.

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

"Children volition look to you when deciding how to feel well-nigh COVID-nineteen. If yous feel calm and prepared, they are probable to feel similarly," Milstone notes.

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-nineteen)

What you need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.