COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on Feb 17, 2022

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

Aaron Milstone, M.D., Chiliad.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to go along babies and kids safe, the risk 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, proceed to spread, peculiarly in areas with depression rates of community COVID-xix vaccination and among populations such as children under 5 who cannot yet exist vaccinated.

For children too young to be vaccinated (and adults who have 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 condign infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but take chances can be reduced by masking, distancing, manus washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should empathise 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 tin develop a serious lung infection and get very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'south why information technology is important to use precautions and prevent infection in children as well as 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 babe. Infants can besides become infected soon afterwards being born. Co-ordinate to the U.S. Centers for Illness Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, only serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should accept extra precautions, including talking to your medico about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avert the coronavirus.

There is no show that the virus causing COVID-19 is nowadays in breast milk but because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-xix during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, information technology is very important to follow rubber guidelines. Larn more about 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 take whatever signs of being sick at all.

COVID-xix symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • 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 vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

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

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

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

Nonetheless, serious illness in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay warning if their child 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 detect these warning signs in a child:

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • 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 — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might be) ill with COVID-19 — is key to keeping your children healthy. Our good shares how to properly wash easily and make it fun for the whole family.

Chance Factors for Serious COVID-xix in Children

Data from the CDC report indicate that some children may be at a higher risk for a serious case of COVID-19, needing medical intendance in a hospital:

  • Those under historic period two
  • Black and Latino children, who tin be affected by health disparities, leaving them unduly vulnerable to astringent COVID-nineteen complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you recall your child is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family intendance practitioner or urgent care dispensary if you don't take 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 chosen multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C afterward an infection with the coronavirus.

Phone call your family doctor or pediatrician correct away if your kid experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more 24 hours and at least one of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A red rash
  • Intestinal (belly) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Reddish, croaky lips
  • Crimson eyes
  • Swollen hands or feet

Acquire more about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How can immunocompromised kids get the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Heart, says, "Your child's care squad is your go-to resource. It'due south OK to ask your child's md virtually what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your child while preventing COVID-19 and if getting your child vaccinated is advisable," she says.

Some office visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, merely other treatments require your kid's physical presence. "Parents tin 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 take a harder fourth dimension 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 take more astringent symptoms from COVID-19 or any other respiratory disease, 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 kid'southward physician to talk over next steps and to suit appropriate evaluation as needed. Keep your child's medications refilled and have 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. But poorly controlled diabetes tin can weaken the immune system, then parents and doctors should watch these children advisedly for signs and symptoms that may require evaluation.

How to Protect Your Kids from the Coronavirus and COVID-19

Take 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 high risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces hazard of infection, but most importantly, significantly reduces the chance 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 tin can receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the merely vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

Children age 5 and older who take certain medical conditions associated with immunosuppression can receive an additional dose 28 days subsequently their second dose.

Learn more about the COVID-xix 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 five in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best way to continue 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 3 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 college the hazard of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at least 6 anxiety 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 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.

Habiliment 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 K-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data keep to support the value of masking in schools to forestall infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before returning to schoolhouse and so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Mitt hygiene. Kids should wash their hands after using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their olfactory organ, before eating (even snacks) and immediately after coming within 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 tin aid continue track of time past singing the ABCs, which takes near 20 seconds to stop," he says. If lather and h2o are not available, Milstone says the side by side all-time selection is hand sanitizer containing at to the lowest degree 60% alcohol.

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

v Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus hazard together

Though in well-nigh cases COVID-nineteen seems to have less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avoid infection amidst children. Hither's how parents and guardians tin can aid:

Get all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations as before long as they are eligible, and the same goes for flu shots and other vaccinations.

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

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

Keep hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avert touching their face as much as possible. Milstone says information technology can aid if kids carry a toy that will go along their hands decorated, only he notes that parents should launder those toys regularly.

Go along things make clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when near a person who is sick. Make clean surfaces at home and store cleaners in cabinets that are either too loftier for your child to reach or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

Accost anxiety and stress. Talking things over as a family unit tin help identify specific fears and clarify the facts. It also helps for families to talk over a plan in example someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

"Children will wait to you when deciding how to feel about COVID-nineteen. If you experience calm and prepared, they are likely 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.