COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

Reviewed Past:

Updated on February 17, 2022

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

Aaron Milstone, Yard.D., K.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'south Center and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks most COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to keep babies and kids safe, the risk 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 community COVID-19 vaccination and among populations such as children under 5 who cannot yet exist vaccinated.

For children also young to be vaccinated (and adults who take 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 exist reduced past masking, distancing, hand washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should understand that children infected with the coronavirus tin can develop complications requiring hospitalization, and tin can transmit the virus to others.

In rare cases, children infected with the coronavirus tin can develop a serious lung infection and become very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'due south why it is important to apply precautions and prevent infection in children likewise equally adults.

Tin can newborns and babies go COVID-19?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus tin, in very rare cases, pass the illness to her infant. Infants can also become infected presently after being born. Co-ordinate to the U.S. Centers for Affliction Command and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, merely serious cases have occurred. Meaning women should take extra precautions, including talking to your doctor well-nigh getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no bear witness that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in breast milk but considering there is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very important to follow condom guidelines. Acquire 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 not have any signs of being sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of breath 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 olfactory organ

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

"People with flu-like symptoms should exist careful about exposing other people and should get tested to run across if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can as well be of import, as bachelor medicines tin help reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and cough are common COVID-xix symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children tin can take 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 find these alarm signs in a child:

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • Inability to keep down whatever 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 exist) sick with COVID-19 — is cardinal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash hands and brand it fun for the whole family unit.

Take a chance Factors for Serious COVID-xix in Children

Information from the CDC study indicate that some children may be at a higher take a chance for a serious instance of COVID-19, needing medical intendance in a infirmary:

  • Those nether age ii
  • Black and Latino children, who tin be 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 affliction

If you think your child is ill with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care dispensary if you 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 condition chosen multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Phone call your family doc or pediatrician right away if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more than that lasts more than 24 hours and at least 1 of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) hurting
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Red, cracked lips
  • Cherry-red optics
  • Swollen hands or anxiety

Learn more than nearly 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 Centre, says, "Your child's intendance team is your go-to resource. It'southward OK to ask your child'south dr. well-nigh what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your child while preventing COVID-19 and if getting your child vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some office visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your kid's concrete presence. "Parents tin remind children that their treatment is of import to go on 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 run into it.

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 whatever other respiratory disease, including the flu. There are no indications that virtually children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, but find them advisedly and, if symptoms develop, phone call the child'due south doctor to discuss next steps and to adjust advisable evaluation as needed. Keep your child'southward medications refilled and take extra intendance to avoid things that fix off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood sugar is central. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more than susceptible to COVID-19. Just poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune organisation, so parents and doctors should scout these children carefully for signs and symptoms that may crave evaluation.

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

Accept 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 hazard of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, simply most importantly, significantly reduces the run a risk of hospitalization and death from this and other variants."

Children historic period 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 merely vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

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

Acquire more about the COVID-19 vaccine and what parents need to know.

Let'due south 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 be authorized for children under 5 in the adjacent few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the all-time fashion to keep them safer is to avert exposing them to people who are (or who might exist) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Here 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 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' solar 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 article of clothing masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit shut contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such every bit those with health conditions.

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 Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades 1000-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data go along to support the value of masking in schools to foreclose infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before returning to school so kids are comfy wearing them in class.

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

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with soap and warm h2o, for at to the lowest degree 20 seconds. "They can help keep runway of fourth dimension by singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to terminate," he says. If lather and h2o are not available, Milstone says the side by side best option is hand sanitizer containing at least lx% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to launder their hands or becoming very upset when asked to do and so, it might help to give them a small reward, such equally a sticker, to celebrate each time they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a actually expert chore while washing their hands." It as well helps when parents set an example past washing their own hands frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know well-nigh Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus risk together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to have less serious wellness consequences for children than for adults, it is of import to avert infection amidst children. Here's how parents and guardians tin help:

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

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

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

Continue hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face up as much as possible. Milstone says it tin assist if kids comport a toy that will keep their hands busy, merely he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when near 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 can assistance identify specific fears and clarify the facts. It also 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 yous when deciding how to feel about COVID-19. If yous feel calm and prepared, they are likely 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.