COVID in Babies and Kids: Symptoms and Prevention

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Updated on February 17, 2022

Information technology is important for parents and kids to take every possible safety precaution and empathise all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, M.D., Thousand.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children's Center and an infectious disease skilful at The Johns Hopkins Infirmary, talks almost COVID-19 symptoms in children, how to go on babies and kids prophylactic, 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 nearly coronavirus variants in babies and children?

Coronavirus variants, including the very contagious omicron variant, continue to spread, peculiarly in areas with low rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and among populations such as children under five who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children also immature to exist 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 hazard of condign infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, merely run a risk can exist reduced by masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should sympathize 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 go very sick with COVID-19, and deaths have occurred. That'southward why information technology is important to use precautions and prevent infection in children as well as adults.

Can newborns and babies go COVID-19?

Information technology appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, pass the illness to her baby. Infants can also go infected soon after being born. According to the U.Southward. Centers for Disease Command and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who test positive for the coronavirus have balmy symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases take occurred. Meaning women should take actress precautions, including talking to your doctor about getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

There is no evidence that the virus causing COVID-19 is present in breast milk simply because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-xix during breastfeeding through respiratory aerosol, information technology is very important to follow safety guidelines. Learn more well-nigh COVID and breastfeeding.

COVID symptoms in babies, toddlers and children?

By and large, COVID-19 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-nineteen symptoms for children and adults include:

  • Coughing
  • 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 nose

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

"People with flu-like symptoms should be conscientious about exposing other people and should get tested to run into if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for flu virus tin also exist of import, every bit available medicines can aid reduce symptoms in those with influenza."

Fever and coughing are common COVID-xix symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more than likely to be seen in adults. Children can have 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 kid is diagnosed with, or shows signs of, the disease.

Children with COVID-19: When to Telephone call 911

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

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • Inability to keep down any liquids
  • New confusion or inability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Manus-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

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

Run a risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

Information from the CDC study indicate that some children may exist at a higher risk for a serious case of COVID-xix, needing medical intendance in a hospital:

  • Those nether age ii
  • Black and Latino children, who can be affected past health disparities, leaving them unduly vulnerable to astringent COVID-19 complications
  • Children who were born prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you think your child is ill with COVID-19, trust your instinct, specially if the child has a coughing or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family unit intendance practitioner or urgent intendance clinic if you don't have a doctor, and follow their instructions advisedly regarding isolation and testing.

Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C)

Doctors take noted that some children may experience a condition chosen multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C after an infection with the coronavirus.

Call your family medico or pediatrician correct away if your kid experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than 24 hours and at to the lowest degree 1 of these symptoms:

  • Unusual weakness or fatigue
  • A cerise rash
  • Intestinal (abdomen) pain
  • Vomiting and diarrhea
  • Crimson, cracked lips
  • Cherry-red eyes
  • Bloated hands or anxiety

Acquire more about MIS-C.

Children with Medical Atmospheric condition

How tin can immunocompromised kids get the care they need?

Lexie DeLone, a kid life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Centre, says, "Your child's care squad is your go-to resource. It's OK to inquire your child'southward physician nearly what specific steps they are taking to provide treatment for your kid while preventing COVID-xix 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 crave your child's physical presence. "Parents tin can remind children that their handling is of import to keep them good for you, 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 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 than severe symptoms from COVID-xix or any other respiratory disease, including the flu. In that location are no indications that most children with asthma experience severe symptoms due to the coronavirus, just observe them carefully and, if symptoms develop, call the kid's doctor to hash out next steps and to arrange appropriate evaluation as needed. Keep your child's medications refilled and take actress intendance to avoid things that set off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of blood carbohydrate is primal. Children with well-managed diabetes are non expected to exist more susceptible to COVID-xix. But poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune system, so parents and doctors should sentry 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 v and older.

"The omicron variant is very contagious leaving unimmunized people at high hazard of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, only well-nigh importantly, significantly reduces the chance of hospitalization and decease 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 five months ago tin receive a booster shot. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is the simply 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 second dose.

Learn more about the COVID-nineteen 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 v in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the best style to go along them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might be) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Here 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 higher the risk of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at least 6 feet from others outside of their household.
  • Check your kids' twenty-four hours 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 wearable masks properly.
  • Ensure that children limit close contact with children and adults who are vulnerable, such as those with health 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 Affliction 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 aid younger children practice wearing masks before returning to schoolhouse so kids are comfortable wearing them in class.

Hand hygiene. Kids should wash their hands later using the bathroom, sneezing, coughing or bravado their nose, before eating (even snacks) and immediately after coming inside 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 help keep track of time past singing the ABCs, which takes about 20 seconds to end," he says. If lather and h2o are not available, Milstone says the side by side best option 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 becoming very upset when asked to do so, it might aid to give them a minor reward, such as a sticker, to celebrate each time they wash their easily. Compliment them for doing a actually good job while washing their hands." It also helps when parents set an example by 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-nineteen seems to have less serious health consequences for children than for adults, it is important to avoid infection among children. Here'due south how parents and guardians can help:

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

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

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

Keep hands off faces. Parents should remind children to avoid touching their face as much every bit possible. Milstone says it tin can assistance if kids bear a toy that will continue their hands busy, but he notes that parents should wash those toys regularly.

Proceed things clean. Wipe down toys and surfaces your child touches regularly, especially when traveling or when well-nigh a person who is sick. Clean surfaces at domicile and shop cleaners in cabinets that are either too loftier for your child to reach or are secured with childproof chiffonier locks.

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

"Children will look to you when deciding how to experience near COVID-xix. If you feel at-home 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.