COVID symptoms in babies and kids

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
• Cough
• Fever or chills
• Muscle or body aches
• Sore throat
• Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
• Headache
• Extreme tiredness
• Loss of taste or smell
• Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea (less common)
• Conjunctivitis (pinkeye)
• 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.

Learn when else to call 911 or take your child to the ER

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:

• Obesity
• Severe genetic and neurological disorders
• Inherited metabolic disorders
• Sickle cell disease
• Congenital heart disease
• Chronic kidney disease
• Asthma and other lung diseases
• Having a suppressed immune system (such as from taking certain medications)

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.

Should my baby or child get the COVID-19 vaccine?

Yes. The American Academy of PediatricsOpens a new window (AAP) recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for babies 6 months and older, toddlers, and children.

Children 5 and older should get one dose of the updated Pfizer-BioTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine. (Those who are immunocompromised may get additional doses).

Children 6 months through 4 years need at least one dose of the updated COVID-19 vaccine – and maybe multiple doses, depending on the vaccine and whether or not they were previously vaccinated.

See our article on the COVID vaccine for babies, toddlers, and children for more specifics.

If your child has had an allergic reaction to a vaccine before, or you have questions about the vaccine, talk to your child's doctor.

What are other ways to protect my 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 spaces. 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: The CDC recommends masks in indoor public places for anyone 2 and older who is:

• living in an area with a high COVID-19 Community LevelOpens a new window and
• at high risk for getting COVID or having complications as a result of COVID

Check to see what measures your child's daycare, preschool, or school are taking. The CDC provides schools 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. The AAP recommends supervising 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.

Learn more:

• How to keep your family well during cold and flu season
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Guide to kids' fever, cough, and cold medicine
• COVID during pregnancy