Your child has a sore
throat, cough,
and a high fever. Is it COVID-19? Could it be
the flu? Or just a cold?
All these illnesses are caused by viruses
that infect the respiratory tract.
All are contagious and can spread easily from person to person. And they cause some
similar symptoms. So it can be hard to tell them apart.
Here are some things to look for if your child gets sick.
The Common Cold (Caused by Many Different Viruses)
Cold symptoms usually are mild. They often include a tickly throat, a runny or
stuffy nose, and sneezing. If there's a fever, it is not
high. A child with a cold usually feels quite well, and has a good appetite and
normal energy levels.
There is no test for the common cold, and no specific treatment. It just needs
to run its course.
The Flu (Caused by the Influenza Virus)
The flu can also be mild. Usually, though, kids with the flu feel worse than if
they have a cold. They might have a fever that comes on suddenly, with chills, a headache, and body aches.
They can have a sore throat, runny nose, and cough. And they feel generally miserable
and tired and don't have much of an appetite. Some kids even have belly pain, nausea,
vomiting, or diarrhea.
A doctor can check if someone has the flu by doing a test that looks for the flu
virus.
Most kids with flu get
better at home with plenty of liquids, rest, and comfort. In some cases, a doctor
might prescribe an antiviral medicine to lessen the symptoms and shorten the illness.
Some people get very ill and need treatment in the hospital.
Unlike colds or COVID-19, many cases of the flu can be prevented by getting a flu vaccine every year.
COVID-19 (Caused by a Type of Coronavirus)
Kids infected by the coronavirus may not have any symptoms, or their symptoms can
be mild, like those of a common cold. Some can have more severe flu-like symptoms.
So COVID-19 symptoms can look very much like those from a cold or the flu. But one
symptom that happens more commonly in COVID-19 is a loss of taste or smell.
To see if someone has coronavirus, doctors can do
a test that looks for a piece of the virus in the respiratory tract. They also
can check for a past infection by doing a blood
test that looks for antibodies.
There is no vaccine or specific medicine for COVID-19 yet, but experts are working
on these. Most people with COVID-19 get
better at home with plenty of liquids, rest, and comfort. Some people get very
ill and need treatment in the hospital.
When Should I Call the Doctor?
If you have any doubts or questions, it's best to call your doctor. An illness
that seems like a cold can turn out to be the flu or COVID-19. And other illnesses,
like strep throat
or pneumonia, can cause
similar symptoms but need different treatment. Sometimes it's hard to know for sure
which germ is causing the problem. Then, doctors might do some tests to find out.
Get medical care right away if your child:
- seems to be getting worse
- has trouble breathing
- has a high fever
- has a bad headache
- has a sore throat
- seems confused
- has severe belly pain
- has pain or pressure in the chest
- has trouble staying awake
- looks bluish in the lips or face
Call your doctor right away if your child has asthma
or another illness and starts to feel sick with symptoms that might be the flu or
COVID-19. The doctor might want to do some tests or start a specific medicine for
the flu.
What Can Parents Do?
Common steps that help prevent
the spread of germs also work well against the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19.
It's always wise to:
- Wash hands well
and often. Wash for at least 20 seconds with soap and water or use hand sanitizer
with at least 60% alcohol.
- Avoid people who appear sick.
- Clean surfaces that get touched a lot (like doorknobs, counters, phones, etc.).
During the coronavirus pandemic, everyone in your family also should:
- Avoid large crowds and busy places.
- Stay
at least 6 feet from people they don't live with.
- Wear a mask when
in public (all adults and kids over 2 years old).
- Try not to touch their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Everyone in your family 6 months of age and older should get a flu vaccine every
year. It's extra important to get it during the 2020-2021 flu season because:
- Preventing flu in your family will help you avoid needing medical care when health
care providers are so busy caring for people with COVID-19.
- Health experts worry that people who get the flu and COVID-19 at the same time
might have a more serious illness.
- Preventing the flu and its symptoms means that your family will be less likely
to need testing (for flu or coronavirus) or to isolate
at home.
Keep your child home if they're sick or were near someone who is infected with
coronavirus. Talk to your doctor about when it's OK for your child to go back to school
or childcare.
Date reviewed: September 2020