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 prophylactic precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, Thousand.D., K.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Heart and an infectious illness good at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids prophylactic, the 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, continue to spread, particularly in areas with low rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and among populations such equally children nether v who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children likewise young to exist vaccinated (and adults who have not received coronavirus vaccines) information technology is important to follow proven COVID-19 precautions such as mask wearing when in public, indoor places to reduce the take chances of condign infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but risk can exist reduced past masking, distancing, hand 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 get very sick with COVID-19, and deaths accept occurred. That's why it is important to use precautions and preclude infection in children equally well as adults.

Tin can newborns and babies get COVID-19?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus tin can, in very rare cases, pass the disease to her baby. Infants can also get infected soon subsequently being built-in. Co-ordinate to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, just serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should take actress precautions, including talking to your doctor most 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 because at that place is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very of import to follow safety guidelines. Learn more well-nigh 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 not have any signs of beingness sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Coughing
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Musculus 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 be difficult to determine which of either might be present.

"People with flu-like symptoms should be careful about exposing other people and should get tested to encounter if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus tin also be of import, every bit available medicines can aid reduce symptoms in those with flu."

Fever and cough are common COVID-nineteen 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 tin can likewise experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

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

Children with COVID-19: When to Phone call 911

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

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • Disability to go on 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 — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might exist) sick with COVID-19 — is central to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash hands and go far fun for the whole family unit.

Hazard Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

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

  • Those under age 2
  • Black and Latino children, who tin 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 you call back your child is sick with COVID-xix, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family 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 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 doc or pediatrician correct away if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than than 24 hours and at least one of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A cherry-red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Red, croaky lips
  • Cerise optics
  • Swollen hands or feet

Learn more about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Weather

How can immunocompromised kids become the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Centre, says, "Your child's care team is your get-to resource. Information technology's OK to ask your child'due south doctor well-nigh what specific steps they are taking to provide handling for your child while preventing COVID-xix and if getting your child vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some part visits and follow-ups may exist able to shift to telemedicine, only other treatments require your kid'south physical presence. "Parents tin can remind children that their treatment is important to keep them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might be enlightened of the fact that their bodies could have a harder time fighting the virus if they meet it.

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 than severe symptoms from COVID-19 or any other respiratory disease, including the flu. There are no indications that near children with asthma experience astringent symptoms due to the coronavirus, but discover them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child'due south doc to hash out next steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation equally needed. Proceed your child's medications refilled and take extra care to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more susceptible to COVID-19. Simply poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the allowed system, so parents and doctors should lookout these children carefully 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 most importantly, significantly reduces the risk 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 agone can receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the only vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

Children historic period 5 and older who accept certain medical atmospheric condition associated with immunosuppression can receive an additional dose 28 days after their second dose.

Learn more near the COVID-xix 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 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. 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 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 identify.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and be sure the children wear masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with wellness conditions.

Wear a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is ane reason why the Centers for Affliction Command 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 proceed to back up the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents assist younger children practice wearing masks before returning to schoolhouse so kids are comfortable wearing them in grade.

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

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with soap and warm water, for at to the lowest degree xx seconds. "They can assistance keep track of time by singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to end," he says. If lather and water are not available, Milstone says the adjacent best choice is hand sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their easily or becoming 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 actually expert chore while washing their easily." Information technology as well helps when parents set an instance by washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families tin reduce coronavirus run a risk together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to have less serious wellness consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avert infection among children. Here'due south how parents and guardians tin can help:

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

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

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

Keep hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avert touching their face up as much as possible. Milstone says it can help if kids carry a toy that will keep their hands busy, merely he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe downward toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when near a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at home and store cleaners in cabinets that are either likewise high for your child to reach or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

Address feet and stress. Talking things over equally a family unit can help identify specific fears and clarify the facts. It also helps for families to discuss a plan in example someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

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

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-xix)

What you need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.