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 empathize all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, Yard.D., M.H.South., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'south Center and an communicable diseases skilful at The Johns Hopkins Infirmary, 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 most coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, continue to spread, especially in areas with depression rates of customs COVID-nineteen vaccination and amongst populations such as children under 5 who cannot notwithstanding 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, merely risk tin be 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 accept occurred. That's why information technology is of import to use precautions and prevent infection in children too equally adults.

Can newborns and babies get COVID-19?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the illness to her baby. Infants can also go infected shortly afterward being born. According to the U.S. Centers for Affliction Control and Prevention (CDC), near newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have balmy symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases have occurred. Meaning women should take actress precautions, including talking to your doctor almost getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

In that location is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in breast milk but because at that place is a possibility of spreading COVID-xix during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, it is very of import to follow safety guidelines. Acquire more about 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 existence sick at all.

COVID-19 symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Cough
  • Fever or chills
  • Shortness of jiff or difficulty breathing
  • Muscle or trunk aches
  • Sore throat
  • New loss of gustation or smell
  • Diarrhea
  • Headache
  • New fatigue
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

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

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

Fever and cough are mutual COVID-xix symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

Nonetheless, serious affliction 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 observe these alarm signs in a child:

  • Difficulty breathing or communicable his or her breath
  • Inability to go on downward whatever liquids
  • New confusion or disability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Hand-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Mitt-washing — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might be) sick with COVID-19 — is key to keeping your children healthy. Our adept shares how to properly wash hands and brand it fun for the whole family unit.

Risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

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

  • Those under age 2
  • Black and Latino children, who can exist affected by health disparities, leaving them disproportionately vulnerable to severe COVID-19 complications
  • Children who were built-in prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung affliction

If you think your child is sick with COVID-nineteen, trust your instinct, particularly if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family intendance practitioner or urgent care dispensary if you don't have a physician, 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.

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 least one of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A crimson rash
  • Abdominal (belly) pain
  • Airsickness and diarrhea
  • Red, croaky lips
  • Cherry eyes
  • Swollen hands or anxiety

Larn more than about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Weather

How can immunocompromised kids go the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Centre, says, "Your kid's care team is your go-to resources. It's OK to ask your kid's doctor about what specific steps they are taking to provide handling for your kid while preventing COVID-xix and if getting your child vaccinated is advisable," she says.

Some role visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, only other treatments crave your kid's concrete presence. "Parents tin can remind children that their treatment is important to go on them healthy, DeLone says. "Older children and teens might be enlightened of the fact that their bodies could take a harder fourth dimension fighting the virus if they come across it.

Parents can reassure them that hospitals are enlightened of patients' vulnerabilities, and are prepared and using precautions."

Asthma: Children with asthma may take more than severe symptoms from COVID-nineteen or any other respiratory affliction, including the influenza. There are no indications that virtually children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, simply find them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the kid'southward doctor to talk over next steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation as needed. Keep your child'south medications refilled and take extra care to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Command of blood saccharide is cardinal. 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 arrangement, so parents and doctors should watch these children carefully for signs and symptoms that may require evaluation.

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

Accept your child vaccinated for COVID

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

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high risk of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, but most importantly, significantly reduces the take a chance of hospitalization and death from this and other variants."

Children age 12 or older who accept received both required doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine at to the lowest degree v months agone tin 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 have certain medical weather condition associated with immunosuppression tin receive an boosted dose 28 days after their second dose.

Learn more near the COVID-19 vaccine and what parents demand to know.

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Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-19

While a vaccine may be authorized for children under 5 in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best way to go along them safer is to avert exposing them to people who are (or who might be) sick with the coronavirus, including family unit 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 risk of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at least 6 feet from others outside of their household.
  • Bank check your kids' mean solar day care and schools (if they are open) to ensure physical distancing measures are in place.
  • Limit in-person play with other children, and exist sure the children wear masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such equally those with health conditions.

Article of clothing 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. Information continue to support the value of masking in schools to prevent infections. Milstone suggests that parents help younger children practice wearing masks earlier returning to school so kids are comfortable wearing them in form.

Hand hygiene. Kids should wash their hands afterwards using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or blowing their nose, earlier eating (fifty-fifty snacks) and immediately later on 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 tin assistance keep track of fourth dimension past singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to finish," he says. If soap and water are not bachelor, Milstone says the next best option is manus sanitizer containing at least 60% booze.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to wash their hands or becoming very upset when asked to do so, information technology might help to give them a small-scale advantage, such equally a sticker, to gloat each time they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a really good task while washing their hands." It also helps when parents prepare an example by washing their ain hands oft.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know nearly Covid-19

Kids and families can reduce coronavirus risk together

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

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

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

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

Continue hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face every bit much as possible. Milstone says it tin can assistance 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 downwardly toys and surfaces your kid 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 achieve or are secured with childproof cabinet locks.

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

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

Scientist carefully insets a pipette into a test tube.

Coronavirus (COVID-19)

What you need to know from Johns Hopkins Medicine.