COVID symptoms in babies and kids can include fever, runny nose, and cough. Here's what to look out for, and what to do if your child has COVID.
What are the symptoms of COVID in babies and kids?
COVID symptoms in kids and babies are similar to those in adults. The difference is that children typically have milder symptoms. Typical symptoms include:
Runny nose or nasal congestion
Fever or chills
Muscle or body aches
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Headache
Extreme tiredness
Loss of taste or smell
No symptoms at all
Many COVID symptoms are similar to those of other respiratory illnesses, so it can be hard to tell whether your child has COVID-19 or something else. However, COVID-19 is more likely if your child:
Experiences loss of taste or smell (this doesn't occur with the flu)
Was recently exposed to someone who has COVID-19
What to do if your baby or child has COVID
Stay home and call the doctor for medical advice if you or your child develop COVID symptoms. (Unless you develop serious symptoms – see below.) If you or your child need to go to a clinic or doctor's office for an appointment or testing, it's important to call ahead so your healthcare provider can take steps to prevent others from becoming infected or exposed to the virus.
Seek immediate medical care if you or anyone in your family are experiencing the following symptoms:
Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
Confusion or inability to arouse
Bluish lips or face
Is COVID dangerous in babies and kids?
In most cases, no. It's very rare for babies or children to be hospitalized or to die due to COVID-19. While people of every age are at risk of complications from COVID, so far it has proven to be most severe to the elderly and those with preexisting illnesses. Still, millions of children have been diagnosed with COVID-19, and they can experience long-term symptoms (also called "long COVID") including:
Tiredness or fatigue
Headache
Trouble sleeping
Trouble concentrating
Muscle and joint pain
Cough
Children with underlying medical conditions are at greater risk for serious complications from COVID. Scientists are still trying to understand which conditions put children more at risk, but they may include:
A very small percentage of children and teens exposed to COVID-19 have developed a dangerous illness called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). Researchers are working to fully understand which children are more at risk for developing MIS-C, but it seems that children with MIS-C often have no or few symptoms of COVID-19. The symptoms of multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) in children – which usually show up 2 to 6 weeks following infection – include:
Fever lasting 24 hours or more
Stomach pain, diarrhea, or vomiting
Chest tightness or pressure
Rash or change in skin color
Bloodshot eyes
Extreme tiredness
Difficulty breathing
Confusion
Inability to wake up or stay awake
Bluish lips or face
Call your child's doctor or an emergency care provider immediately if your child has any of these symptoms, and let them know if your child has recently tested positive for COVID-19 or been exposed to someone with the virus.
What ways can you protect your baby or child from COVID?
Getting your child vaccinated is top of the list. And while it's not necessary (or recommended) to stop socializing and going out, there are some things you can do to lower your child's chances of getting COVID when you're out and about.
Here are some precautions you can take to help your child stay well:
Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated space - Consider organizing outdoor playdates, such as walks or bike rides, to reduce the chances of your child getting infected.
Mask up if they're high-risk - Masks in indoor public places
Check to see what measures your child's daycare, preschool, or school are taking - Schools are provided with recommendations about ventilation, testing, quarantining, cleaning, and disinfection. Studies show low transmission of COVID-19 among school kids when prevention strategies are in place.
Wash hands - Encourage children to wash their hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after going to the bathroom, blowing their nose, coughing, or sneezing. (If you don't have access to soap, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer with at least 60 percent alcohol. Supervise children under the age of 5 when using hand sanitizers.) To keep other children and adults safe, keep your child home if they're not feeling well, and teach them to cover their coughs and sneezes.
Adapted from: Baby Center
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