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 take every possible safety precaution and sympathise 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 virtually 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 status that may exist 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 equally children under five who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children as well 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 run a risk of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but risk can exist reduced by masking, distancing, manus washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should understand 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 become very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That's why it is important to utilise precautions and prevent infection in children as well as adults.

Tin can newborns and babies go COVID-nineteen?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus tin can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the affliction to her infant. Infants tin can also become infected shortly after being born. According 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, but serious cases take occurred. Pregnant women should have actress precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-xix vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no prove 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 of import to follow prophylactic guidelines. Learn more well-nigh COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

Mostly, 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 breath or difficulty animate
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Sore pharynx
  • New loss of taste or odour
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • 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 exist present.

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

Fever and coughing are mutual COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more probable to be seen in adults. Children can accept pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also feel sore pharynx, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

Yet, serious illness in children with COVID-xix is possible, and parents should stay warning if their child is diagnosed with, or shows signs of, the affliction.

Children with COVID-19: When to Call 911

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

  • Difficulty animate or catching his or her breath
  • Inability to keep downward any liquids
  • New confusion or disability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Paw-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Mitt-washing — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might be) ill with COVID-nineteen — is cardinal to keeping your children healthy. Our expert shares how to properly launder 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 exist at a higher chance for a serious instance of COVID-19, needing medical intendance in a hospital:

  • Those under historic period 2
  • Black and Latino children, who can 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 yous think your child is sick with COVID-nineteen, trust your instinct, specially if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family care practitioner or urgent intendance clinic 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 called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Telephone call your family doctor or pediatrician right abroad if your child experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than than 24 hours and at least ane of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A red rash
  • Abdominal (belly) hurting
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Carmine, cracked lips
  • Red eyes
  • Swollen easily or feet

Learn more than nearly MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How tin can immunocompromised kids get the intendance they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Middle, says, "Your kid'south care team is your go-to resources. It'southward OK to ask your child'southward doctor about what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your kid 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 child'due south physical presence. "Parents 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 run across 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 astringent symptoms from COVID-nineteen or whatsoever other respiratory disease, including the flu. In that location are no indications that most children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, but observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the child'southward md to discuss adjacent steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation equally needed. Keep your kid'due south medications refilled and take extra intendance to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of claret saccharide is fundamental. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more susceptible to COVID-xix. But poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune system, so 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

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 5 and older.

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces chance of infection, only well-nigh chiefly, 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 to the lowest degree five months ago can receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the just vaccine and booster authorized for individuals ages 12–17.

Children age 5 and older who take sure medical conditions associated with immunosuppression can receive an boosted dose 28 days after their 2nd dose.

Larn more nigh the COVID-19 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 nether 5 in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the all-time way 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 iii of the all-time means to protect your kids from infection.

Maintain concrete 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 half dozen anxiety from others exterior of their household.
  • Check your kids' day care and schools (if they are open) to ensure concrete distancing measures are in identify.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and exist sure the children wear masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit shut contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with wellness weather condition.

Wear a mask. Very contagious coronavirus variants are circulating. Mask wearing prevents virus spread and outbreaks. This is one reason why the Centers for Illness 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 proceed to back up the value of masking in schools to foreclose infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practise wearing masks before returning to school and so kids are comfy wearing them in class.

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

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to launder their easily regularly, with soap and warm water, for at to the lowest degree twenty seconds. "They can help continue track of fourth dimension by singing the ABCs, which takes nearly xx seconds to finish," he says. If soap and h2o are not available, Milstone says the adjacent best option 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 practise so, it might help to requite them a modest reward, such as a sticker, to celebrate each time they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a really expert job while washing their hands." It likewise helps when parents set an case by washing their own hands often.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know nearly Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus risk together

Though in near cases COVID-19 seems to have less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avoid infection among children. Here'southward how parents and guardians tin assist:

Get all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-19 vaccinations equally soon 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 lookout for serious illness in kids.

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

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

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

Address anxiety and stress. Talking things over as a family can assist identify specific fears and analyze the facts. It as well helps for families to talk over a plan in case someone gets sick or something else happens that interrupts the normal routine.

"Children will wait to you when deciding how to feel virtually COVID-19. If yous feel at-home and prepared, they are likely to experience similarly," Milstone notes.

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What yous need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.