COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

Reviewed Past:

Updated on February 17, 2022

It is important for parents and kids to take every possible safety precaution and empathize all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, M.D., 1000.H.Southward., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an infectious disease proficient at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks well-nigh COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids rubber, the chance infected children may pose to others, and an overview of MIS-C, an uncommon just 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, specially in areas with low rates of customs COVID-19 vaccination and amid populations such as children nether 5 who cannot nonetheless be vaccinated.

For children too young to exist vaccinated (and adults who accept not received coronavirus vaccines) it is important to follow proven COVID-nineteen precautions such every bit mask wearing when in public, indoor places to reduce the risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but take a chance can be reduced past masking, distancing, paw washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathize 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 get very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That's why it is important to employ precautions and foreclose infection in children as well equally adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-19?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, pass the disease to her infant. Infants can also get infected before long afterwards being built-in. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus take mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should take actress precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid 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-nineteen during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very important to follow safety guidelines. Learn more about COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Generally, COVID-19 symptoms in kids and babies are milder than those in adults, and some infected children may non have any signs of existence sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty animate
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of sense of taste or odor
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or airsickness
  • Congestion or runny olfactory organ

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

"People with flu-similar symptoms should be conscientious about exposing other people and should get tested to see if they accept COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also exist important, equally available medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and coughing are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can take pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They tin 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 affliction.

Children with COVID-nineteen: When to Call 911

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

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her jiff
  • Inability to keep downwards any liquids
  • New defoliation 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 cardinal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly launder hands and make information technology fun for the whole family.

Gamble Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Data from the CDC written report indicate that some children may exist at a higher chance for a serious instance of COVID-19, needing medical care in a hospital:

  • Those under age ii
  • Black and Latino children, who can be affected past 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 y'all think your child is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care 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 have noted that some children may experience a status called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Call your family physician 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 blood-red rash
  • Intestinal (abdomen) hurting
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Ruby, croaky lips
  • Red eyes
  • Swollen hands or feet

Learn more about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Weather

How tin can immunocompromised kids go the care they demand?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, says, "Your kid'due south care squad is your go-to resources. It'southward OK to inquire your child'south doctor nigh 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'due south physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their treatment is important to continue them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might exist aware of the fact that their bodies could have a harder time fighting the virus if they encounter 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 severe symptoms from COVID-19 or whatsoever other respiratory illness, including the flu. There are no indications that most children with asthma experience astringent symptoms due to the coronavirus, only discover them advisedly and, if symptoms develop, call the child'southward doctor to discuss next steps and to adjust appropriate evaluation as needed. Keep your child'southward medications refilled and take extra 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 non expected to be more than susceptible to COVID-19. But poorly controlled diabetes tin can weaken the immune organization, so parents and doctors should watch these children advisedly for signs and symptoms that may crave 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 there are many benefits to vaccinating children for COVID-19. The CDC recommends vaccines for children five and older.

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, but most chiefly, significantly reduces the gamble of hospitalization and decease 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 take certain medical weather associated with immunosuppression can receive an additional dose 28 days afterward their 2d dose.

Larn more about the COVID-nineteen 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 5 in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best manner to go on them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might be) sick with the coronavirus, including family unit members. Hither 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 elapsing of that contact, the higher the hazard 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 up) to ensure concrete distancing measures are in identify.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be certain the children wear masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health conditions.

Wear a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is 1 reason why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades G-12, fifty-fifty for those who are fully vaccinated. Information continue to back up the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before returning to school and so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Paw hygiene. Kids should wash their hands afterwards using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, before eating (fifty-fifty snacks) and immediately afterwards coming inside from playing outdoors.

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with lather and warm water, for at least 20 seconds. "They can help keep track of time past singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to terminate," he says. If lather and water are non available, Milstone says the next best option is paw sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or becoming very upset when asked to practice so, it might assistance to give them a small reward, such as a sticker, to celebrate each time they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a really proficient job while washing their hands." It too helps when parents set an example by washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Demand to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families tin can reduce coronavirus run a risk 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. Here'south how parents and guardians can help:

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

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-xix and be on the watch 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 hands, and to launder their hands after each time this occurs," Milstone says. "Throw away tissues subsequently they are used," he adds.

Keep hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face every bit much as possible. Milstone says information technology can assistance if kids deport a toy that will keep their easily decorated, only he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Go along things clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your kid touches regularly, especially when traveling or when about a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at domicile and store cleaners in cabinets that are either also 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. It too helps for families to discuss a program in case someone gets ill or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

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

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What you lot need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.