This has been a big topic of discussion throughout the Covid-19 pandemic as people worry about protecting their families, making sure the proper precautions are taken for different age groups.
The good news is, while children can and do still get the coronavirus, the results show that they get it far less often and are also much less affected by it.
Moreover, research also shows that they are less susceptible to actually contracting the virus in the first place. Studies are still looking into this and are trying to find a reason for it.
However, as with any other age group, children that have underlying health conditions are at high risk of serious repercussions if they get the coronavirus. But again, even if they do have underlying conditions very few children will get serious life-threatening symptoms.
While children do show and suffer less from the symptoms, there is the worry that because of this they could more easily spread it to others. However, there is little evidence to suggest this is true at the moment.
Covid-19 Symptoms for Children
The symptoms children experience are more or less in line with the normal symptoms experienced by other age groups.
The symptoms to look out for are:
- A new fever or high temperature.
- A new cough – Especially one that is continuous or persists for more than an hour.
- Losing their sense of taste or smell.
Unlike adults, it can be harder to tell when your child has these symptoms if they’re mild as they might not speak up. It is important to try and explain to children that they should let someone know if they are experiencing symptoms.
More serious Covid-19 Symptoms in Children
There are less common symptoms that should be carefully monitored and cause for alarm.
- Trouble catching their breath
- Fatigue
- Vomiting
- diarrhoea
John Hopkins Medicine states: “Fever and cough are common COVID-19 symptoms in both adults and children; shortness of breath is more likely to be seen in adults. Children can have pneumonia, with or without obvious symptoms. They can also experience sore throat, excessive fatigue or diarrhoea.”
What Should You Do If Your Child Has Symptoms?
If your child has any of the above symptoms, no matter how mild, you should:
- Isolate them immediately from as many people as possible. Anyone in the home should isolate themselves as well.
- Tell everyone that your child has been in contact recently so that they can look out for symptoms and isolate themselves if necessary.
- Contact the doctor and get a test as soon as possible to find out if they have coronavirus.
For most of the above symptoms, the best thing to do is isolate and monitor the symptoms closely to see if they worsen.
When to call 999?
While this is a rare scenario in the case of children, it is always good to be prepared and know what symptoms to look out for and when you should call for an ambulance.
You should call emergency services if you notice:
- The child is struggling to breathe or catch their breath.
- They can’t keep liquids down / excessive vomiting.
- Serious fatigue or struggle to stay awake.
- Blush lips.
While Covid-19 bears minimal risk to children, both in terms of contracting the virus and the symptoms, it is still important to be aware of the symptoms and when to start being concerned.
Moreover, knowing when your child has Coronavirus is important to make sure you isolate them and get them tested to hopefully control the spread of Covid-19.
