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 take every possible safety precaution and understand all risks and symptoms related to COVID-19.

Aaron Milstone, M.D., M.H.S., a pediatrician at Johns Hopkins Children'south Heart and an infectious disease expert at The Johns Hopkins Infirmary, talks about COVID-nineteen symptoms in children, how to go on 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, go on to spread, specially in areas with low rates of community COVID-19 vaccination and among populations such equally children nether 5 who cannot yet be vaccinated.

For children likewise young 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 chance of becoming infected with the coronavirus.

"Indoor activities are riskier than outdoor activities, but risk can exist reduced by masking, distancing, mitt washing, and improved ventilation," Milstone says.
Parents and caregivers should understand that children infected with the coronavirus can develop complications requiring hospitalization, and tin transmit the virus to others.

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

Can newborns and babies become COVID-xix?

It appears that women infected with the coronavirus can, in very rare cases, laissez passer the illness to her baby. Infants tin besides get infected before long after being born. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most newborns who exam positive for the coronavirus take mild symptoms or none at all, and recover, but serious cases take occurred. Pregnant women should accept extra precautions, including talking to your doctor nearly getting a COVID-19 vaccine, to avoid the coronavirus.

At that place is no testify that the virus causing COVID-xix is present in chest milk simply because there is a possibility of spreading COVID-19 during breastfeeding through respiratory droplets, information technology is very important to follow prophylactic guidelines. Learn more about 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 have any signs of beingness 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 vomiting
  • Congestion or runny nose

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

"People with flu-like symptoms should be careful virtually exposing other people and should become tested to come across if they have COVID," says Milstone. "Testing for influenza virus can also be important, equally bachelor 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 probable to be seen in adults. Children tin have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They tin also experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhea.

Still, serious illness in children with COVID-19 is possible, and parents should stay alarm if their kid 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 intendance if they notice these alarm signs in a child:

  • Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
  • Inability to continue down whatever liquids
  • New defoliation or inability to awaken
  • Bluish lips
illustration of a superhero punching a germ

Paw-washing and Coronavirus Prevention for Children

Manus-washing — along with limiting exposure to people who are (or might exist) sick with COVID-19 — is key to keeping your children healthy. Our adept shares how to properly launder easily and make it fun for the whole family.

Run a risk Factors for Serious COVID-19 in Children

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

  • Those nether 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 built-in prematurely
  • Those living with obesity or chronic lung disease

If you lot remember your kid is sick with COVID-19, trust your instinct, specially if the child has a cough or fever. Contact your pediatrician, family unit 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 feel a condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C later on an infection with the coronavirus.

Call your family medico or pediatrician right away if your kid experiences a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or more that lasts more than than 24 hours and at least one of these symptoms:

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

Acquire more virtually MIS-C.

Children with Medical Conditions

How can immunocompromised kids get the care they demand?

Lexie DeLone, a child life specialist at Johns Hopkins Children's Center, says, "Your child's intendance team is your get-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-xix and if getting your child vaccinated is appropriate," she says.

Some office visits and follow-ups may be able to shift to telemedicine, only other treatments require your child's 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 have a harder time fighting the virus if they meet 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-19 or any other respiratory affliction, including the influenza. There 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 child's doctor to talk over next steps and to adjust appropriate evaluation equally needed. Keep your child's medications refilled and take extra intendance to avoid things that prepare off asthma attacks in your child.

Diabetes: Control of claret saccharide is cardinal. Children with well-managed diabetes are not expected to be more susceptible to COVID-19. Just poorly controlled diabetes can weaken the immune system, 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-19

Have your child vaccinated for COVID

Experts, including those at Johns Hopkins, believe that in that location 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 take a chance of infection," says Milstone. "Vaccination reduces risk of infection, but near 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 least 5 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 atmospheric condition associated with immunosuppression tin receive an additional dose 28 days after their 2d dose.

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

Let's Talk Health (Hablemos de Sauld) | The New Normal for Kids: During COVID-xix - Function I

Protecting Younger Kids from COVID-xix

While a vaccine may be authorized for children under 5 in the next few months, until that happens, Milstone says that the all-time fashion to keep them safer is to avoid exposing them to people who are (or who might be) sick with the coronavirus, including family members. Hither are iii of the best ways to protect your kids from infection.

Maintain physical distancing. The more people your kids come up in contact with, and the longer the duration of that contact, the higher the run a risk of infection with the coronavirus.

  • Children should stay at least 6 anxiety from others outside of their household.
  • Check your kids' mean 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 certain the children wear 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 Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend masking for children in grades Chiliad-12, even for those who are fully vaccinated. Data go along 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 class.

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

Milstone advises parents to teach kids to wash their hands regularly, with soap and warm h2o, for at least xx seconds. "They tin can help keep track of fourth dimension past singing the ABCs, which takes nearly xx seconds to finish," he says. If soap and water are non bachelor, Milstone says the adjacent all-time option is paw sanitizer containing at least 60% alcohol.

Kids who balk. Milstone says, "If your child is refusing to launder their easily or becoming very upset when asked to do so, it might assist to requite them a small reward, such every bit a sticker, to celebrate each time they launder their hands. Compliment them for doing a actually expert chore while washing their hands." It likewise helps when parents set an case by washing their own easily frequently.

5 Tips Kids Need to Know about Covid-19

Kids and families tin reduce coronavirus run a risk together

Though in about cases COVID-19 seems to take less serious health consequences for children than for adults, information technology is important to avoid infection among children. Here'southward how parents and guardians can aid:

Go all your shots. Ensure that all family members receive COVID-nineteen vaccinations equally presently every bit they are eligible, and the aforementioned goes for influenza shots and other vaccinations.

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

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

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

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

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

"Children will look to y'all when deciding how to feel about COVID-nineteen. 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.