
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Children's Hospital Association, approximately 13% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S. are children.
Though children are vulnerable to COVID-19, most kids under the age of 14 are less likely to become infected, and symptoms are often less severe. Babies, however, under 12 months of age are susceptible to severe infection due to their undeveloped immune systems and smaller airways.
The most common symptoms of COVID-19 are the same as the flu, which include:
- Fatigue
- Body ache
- Fever
- Headache
- Loss of taste and smell (rare)
- Cough (dry or productive)
- Difficulty in breathing
- Congestion or runny nose
- Poor appetite
- Loose stools
- Sore throat
According to research, COVID-19 affects children slightly differently. Below is approximate data collected from those studies:
How contagious is COVID-19 in children?
The COVID-19 virus spreads easily through:
The virus can also live on objects that have been in contact with an infected person’s mouth, nose, hands, or body fluids.
Symptoms may appear soon after exposure to the virus and can last for 2-7 days. The incubation period is about 1-14 days. This means the virus can infect people up to 14 days before symptoms start to appear.
Symptoms vary in children, with some not showing any symptoms at all and others experiencing mild to moderate symptoms. Recovery from symptoms such as fatigue and cough may take several weeks, depending on how severe the illness is.
How can I tell if my child has COVID-19 or the flu?
Because many COVID-19 symptoms resemble flu symptoms, it is difficult to determine which illness your child has without a definitive test.
If you or your child have symptoms indicative of either illness, visit your nearest emergency room to get tested for both viruses as soon as possible. ER and urgent care centers offer influenza testing and rapid and reliable forms of COVID-19 testing, including the coronavirus antibody test.

SLIDESHOW
Exercise Tips for Kids and the Whole Family See SlideshowHow are COVID-19 symptoms in children managed?
There is currently no specific treatment for COVID-19 that can make it go away faster. If your child is diagnosed with COVID-19, their doctor will let you know how to manage symptoms.
Mild to moderate cases
Most children with moderate or mild disease can be managed with supportive care at home (getting enough rest, increasing fluid intake, and managing the fever with medication, such as acetaminophen).
Severe cases
In children with severe COVID-19, supportive care may help relieve symptoms. Treatment may also include supporting vital organ functions, such as:
- Respiratory ventilation and therapies maintain oxygen saturation
- Thromboprophylaxis and antithrombotic therapy (blood thinners)
- Management of shock
- Acute kidney injury and renal replacement therapies (RRT)
Treatment for hospitalized children with COVID-19 may include antiviral and steroid medication depending on the child's age and disease severity
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a new syndrome that occurs in a minority of children with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19).
- Mild cases include minimal signs of inflammation, no signs of cardiac involvement, and no signs of shock (may not initially require treatment).
- Most severe cases require significant vasoactive-inotropic interventions and ventilatory support. These cases may cause moderate or severe organ injury.
Vaccination
The FDA has granted an emergency use authorization (EUA) to the Pfizer-Biotech COVID-19 mRNA vaccine (BNT162b2) to prevent COVID-19 in children aged 12 years old and older.
Since the disease is still being studied, there are still many unknown things about COVID-19, including how it affects children. If you are taking care of a child with COVID-19 at home, take precautions to prevent further transmission of the virus.
Health News
- Most Injection Drug Users Are Not Seeking Out Fentanyl: Study
- Cancer Survivors Who Keep Smoking Have Double the Risk for Heart-Related Death
- Canada to Become 1st Country to Mandate Warning Labels on Individual Cigarettes
- Nova Scotia Wildfires Sending Unhealthy 'Smoke Plume' to U.S. Northeast
- U.S. Teen Birth Rate Hits Another Historic Low
More Health News »
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
University Hospitals. Coronavirus in Children & Young Adults. https://www.uhhospitals.org/rainbow/services/coronavirus-in-children
National Institutes of Health. Special Considerations in Children. https://www.covid19treatmentguidelines.nih.gov/special-populations/children/
Mayo Clinic. COVID-19 (coronavirus) in Babies and Children. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-in-babies-and-children/art-20484405
Top What Are Symptoms of COVID-19 in Children? Related Articles
Fever
Although a fever technically is any body temperature above the normal of 98.6 F (37 C), in practice, a person is usually not considered to have a significant fever until the temperature is above 100.4 F (38 C). Fever is part of the body's own disease-fighting arsenal; rising body temperatures apparently are capable of killing off many disease-producing organisms.10 Common Symptoms in Infants and Young Toddlers
Watch this slideshow to see common symptoms and home treatment for infant and childhood illnesses including fever, nausea, constipation and more.Children's Health
Children's health is focused on the well-being of children from conception through adolescence. There are many aspects of children's health, including growth and development, illnesses, injuries, behavior, mental illness, family health, and community health.Cold, Fever and Flu Symptoms in Children: Medications and Home Remedies
How long does a cold last? How long is a cold contagious? Colds and fevers are some of the most common ailments in children. Learn common cold symptoms, treatment options, over the counter (OTC) medicines for cold and fever, home remedies, and how to relieve a sore throat.Cold & Flu Quiz
Aches? Pain? Fever? This Cold & Flu Quiz tests your knowledge on the difference between coming down with the common cold and sickness from influenza virus.Coronavirus COVID-19 Prevention: Test Your Medical IQ
What's really the best way to prevent the spread of new coronavirus COVID-19? Should wear a mask or not? Take this quiz to find out!Coronavirus: How COVID-19 Affects Your Body
By now, everyone knows about COVID-19. But do you know how it can affect your body?COVID-19 Vaccine Myths and Facts Quiz
The FDA has granted Emergency Use Authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines that have been shown to be safe and effective as established by data from large clinical trials.How Do the COVID-19 Coronavirus Tests Work?
Tests used for detection of SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) may use two methods to detect SARS-CoV-2 virus, the cause of COVID-19 disease, a debilitating and potentially deadly viral pneumonia. Genomic or molecular detection confirms the presence of viral DNA. The immunoglobulin or serology tests can tell whether or not you have been exposed to coronavirus, but not whether you are currently infected. Both tests administered in tandem can give you your complete COVID-19 infection status.How Long Is a COVID-19 Patient Contagious?
People infected with COVID-19 can still be contagious even when they stop feeling sick, so precautionary measures should continue for at least 2 weeks after symptoms disappear and until the COVID-19 test result is negative. Ideally, patients should be quarantined at home or an institution for 2 weeks after the symptoms completely disappear.Flu (Influenza)
Influenza (flu) is a respiratory illness caused by a virus. Flu symptoms include fever, cough, sore throat, runny nose, headache, fatigue, and muscle aches. The flu may be prevented with an annual influenza vaccination.Lung and Respiratory: Signs That You May Have Had COVID-19
Could you have already had COVID-19 and not know it? Learn some signs that might indicate just that.What Is the Recommended Pain Reliever for COVID-19?
Acetaminophen (Tylenol), ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin) and naproxen (Aleve) can all be used for pain relief from COVID-19 body aches if they are taken in the recommended doses.How to Differentiate Between the Signs and Symptoms of COVID-19, Allergies, Cold, and Flu?
Coronavirus disease or COVID-19 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus called SARS-CoV-2. Most people with COVID-19 will experience a mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without the need for intensive or special treatment. Serious illness is more likely in elderly people and those with underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer.Tests Available for COVID-19
Getting tested for COVID-19 can identify you as a positive or negative patient of the disease. Remember no test is 100% accurate. Different methods of testing have been launched to trace COVID-19 infection.What Is Considered to Be Fever for COVID-19?
A body temperature of 100.4 degrees F or higher is generally seen in people with COVID-19, although not everyone who is infected with the virus will develop a fever. Symptoms of COVID-19 may appear 2-14 days after exposure to infection. Other COVID-19 symptoms may include cough, runny nose, body aches, headache, sore throat, difficulty breathing, nausea with or without vomiting, diarrhea, loss of taste, loss of smell, and abdominal pain.What Is the COVID-19 Antibody Test For?
The COVID-19 antibody test, also known as a serology test, is a blood test that looks for antibodies to determine whether you have had a recent or past infection of the virus that causes COVID-19.