COVID-19: What to Do if Your Child Is Sick

What Are the Signs & Symptoms of COVID-19?

The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, cough, trouble breathing, sore throat, congestion, and gastrointestinal problems like bellyache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other complaints include headaches, muscle aches, and loss of taste and smell. The virus can be more serious in some people. And some people have no symptoms at all.

Some kids get symptoms caused by inflammation throughout the body, sometimes several weeks after they were infected with the virus. It can affect many different body systems, including the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal system. This is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).

Most kids with MIS-C get better after they get special care in the hospital, sometimes in the ICU (intensive care unit).

What Should I Do if My Child Feels Sick?

Call your doctor if your child has symptoms of COVID-19 or MIS-C, or just isn't  feeling well.

The doctor can decide whether your child:

• should get tested for the infection
• can be treated at home
• should come in for a visit

Get care right away if your child:

• has trouble breathing
• has severe belly pain
• has pain or pressure in the chest
• is confused or not making sense
• has trouble staying awake
• looks bluish in the lips or face

These symptoms can be warning signs of serious illness.

How Can I Keep My Family Safe if My Child Has Symptoms?

• Keep other people and pets in the house away from your child as much as possible.
• Try to have one person only care for the sick child so others are not exposed.
• If your child is over 2 years old and can wear a mask without finding it hard to breathe, have them wear one when the caregiver is in the room. The caregiver also should wear one when in the same room.
• If possible, have your sick child use a different bathroom from others. If that isn't possible, wipe down the bathroom often.
• Everyone in your family should wash their hands well and often. Wash with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
• Use regular household cleaners or wipes to clean things that get touched a lot (doorknobs, light switches, toys, remote controls, phones, etc.). Do this every day.
• Open windows and use a HEPA air filter if you have one.

How is COVID-19 Diagnosed?

To test someone for COVID-19, doctors put a cotton swab into the nose or mouth, then send it to a lab. You can also test your child at home with a home test.

How Is COVID-19 Treated?

Most people with a mild illness, including children, don’t need any specific treatment. They get better with rest, fluids, and fever-reducing medicine.

Some kids who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 can get certain medicines, such as antiviral drugs, to keep them from getting very sick and needing hospital care.

Some people who get very sick from COVID-19 will need hospital care, possibly in the ICU. Doctors can closely watch them, give oxygen or IV (intravenous) fluids if needed, and treat any problems. Rarely, they will give medicines such as antiviral drugs or steroids. Someone who needs extra help to breathe will be connected to a breathing machine (a ventilator).

What Else Should I Know?

Safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines help protect kids from COVID-19. This is especially important for those who are high risk, including all kids between 6 months and 23 months. Talk to the doctor to see if your child is due for an updated vaccine.