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 accept every possible rubber precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, M.D., M.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Heart and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Hospital, talks about 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 but 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, especially in areas with depression rates of community COVID-nineteen vaccination and among populations such as children under 5 who cannot nonetheless be 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 becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but risk can be reduced by masking, distancing, hand washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathize that children infected with the coronavirus tin can develop complications requiring hospitalization, and tin 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 take occurred. That'southward why it is important to use precautions and prevent infection in children besides as adults.

Tin can newborns and babies get COVID-xix?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus tin, in very rare cases, pass the illness to her infant. Infants tin can also become infected soon after beingness built-in. Co-ordinate to the U.Southward. Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who exam positive for the coronavirus take balmy symptoms or none at all, and recover, simply serious cases have occurred. Pregnant women should have extra precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avert the coronavirus.

There is no bear witness that the virus causing COVID-nineteen is present in chest milk but considering there is a possibility of spreading COVID-nineteen during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very of import to follow condom 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 take any signs of being sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of jiff or difficulty breathing
  • Musculus or body aches
  • Sore pharynx
  • New loss of gustatory modality or olfactory property
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

Some symptoms of COVID-19 and the flu are shared and it may be hard to make up one's mind which of either might be present.

"People with flu-like symptoms should be careful near exposing other people and should become tested to see if they accept COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also be important, as available medicines can help reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and cough are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more than probable to be seen in adults. Children can take pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can likewise experience sore pharynx, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

However, serious disease in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay alarm 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 intendance if they observe these warning signs in a kid:

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her jiff
  • Inability to keep 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 be) sick with COVID-nineteen — is cardinal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly wash hands and make it fun for the whole family.

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

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

  • Those under age ii
  • Blackness and Latino children, who can be affected by health disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to astringent COVID-xix complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you think your child is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, especially if the kid has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent care dispensary if you don't have a dr., 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 called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C later an infection with the coronavirus.

Call your family doctor 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 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 about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Weather

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 intendance team is your go-to resource. It's OK to ask your child's doctor about 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 exist able to shift to telemedicine, but other treatments require your kid'due south physical presence. "Parents can remind children that their treatment is important to keep them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might be aware of the fact that their bodies could take a harder time fighting the virus if they run across it.

Parents tin 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 nigh children with asthma experience astringent symptoms due to the coronavirus, simply observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child's doctor to discuss next steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation every bit needed. Keep your kid's medications refilled and take extra care to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your kid.

Diabetes: Command of blood sugar is key. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more than susceptible to COVID-xix. But poorly controlled diabetes tin can weaken the immune system, and 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-19

Have your child vaccinated for COVID

Experts, including those at Johns Hopkins, believe that at that place are many benefits to vaccinating children for COVID-19. The CDC recommends vaccines for children v and older.

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high chance of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces adventure of infection, but most importantly, significantly reduces the risk 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 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 can receive an additional dose 28 days after their 2d dose.

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

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Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-19

While a vaccine may exist authorized for children under 5 in the side by side few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the all-time style to go along them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might be) ill 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 in contact with, and the longer the elapsing of that contact, the college the adventure of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at to the lowest degree six feet from others outside of their household.
  • Bank check your kids' solar day care and schools (if they are open) to ensure concrete distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and exist sure the children vesture masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with wellness weather condition.

Clothing a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is ane 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 continue to support the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks before returning to school so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

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

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their easily regularly, with lather and warm h2o, for at least 20 seconds. "They can help keep track of fourth dimension by singing the ABCs, which takes most 20 seconds to end," he says. If soap and water are not available, Milstone says the next 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 wash their easily or becoming very upset when asked to do so, information technology might help to give them a small advantage, such every bit a sticker, to gloat each fourth dimension they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a actually good job while washing their hands." It as well helps when parents ready an example by washing their own hands frequently.

v Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-xix

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus adventure together

Though in most cases COVID-19 seems to take less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is of import to avoid infection among children. Here's how parents and guardians can help:

Become all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations equally presently equally they are eligible, and the same goes for flu shots and other vaccinations.

Know the signs and symptoms of COVID-xix and be on the lookout 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 after they are used," he adds.

Keep easily off faces. Parents should remind children to avert touching their confront as much equally possible. Milstone says it can help if kids carry a toy that volition proceed their easily decorated, but he notes that parents should launder those toys regularly.

Keep things clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, particularly when traveling or when almost a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at home and store cleaners in cabinets that are either too high for your kid to attain or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

Accost anxiety and stress. Talking things over every bit a family can help identify specific fears and clarify the facts. Information technology besides helps for families to discuss a plan in case someone gets ill or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

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

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What you need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.