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Many parents with children are struggling to adjust to a sudden lack of access to child care and / or to find ways to safely educate and socialize young children during a pandemic. Others want to make sure they will be able to carefully monitor the well-being of their children, especially when schools discuss reopening.
As cases have improved in the U.S., children are at increased risk of spreading the disease unknowingly because a significant portion have symptoms that mimic a common cold or even have no symptoms, as the CDC reported.
Here is what to watch out for if you suspect that your toddler or other children have become infected with the coronavirus:
How often do children get COVID-19?
The virus doesn’t care about our narratives or generalizations. Of course, young children and older children can catch covid and pass it on. https://t.co/wGezGl4UGS
– Alberto (@stolidobranch) July 17, 2020
The Mayo Clinic reported that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that only 1.7% of COVID-19 cases between February 12 and April 2 were among children and noted that the small percentage It is similar to what other countries have reported. However, the clinic warns that children with congenital heart disease, genetic conditions, diseases related to the nervous system and metabolism may be at increased risk for serious disease. The Mayo Clinic also reported that a study of 171 children in China who contracted COVID-19 found that approximately 16% were asymptomatic.
The CDC reported that the US had approximately 2% of its cases among children, while in China, 2.2% of coronavirus cases occurred in children under the age of 19 and in Spain, 0.8% of confirmed cases. were under 18 years of age. .
According to the CDC, a study of more than 2,000 children with COVID-19 from China found that 90% of children had mild or moderate symptoms, and by comparison, only 4% were asymptomatic and only 5.6% combined had severe symptoms. or critics. reactions to disease.
What symptoms do young children and other children show?
The CDC has not specified symptoms for young children, but instead has said that most non-baby children have the same range of symptoms. The CDC noted that children at highest risk for developing severe symptoms tend to be babies younger than 12 months. Children at additional risk, according to the CDC, are those “with obesity, diabetes, asthma, chronic lung disease, or immunosuppression.”
The symptoms described by the CDC tend to present as a case of the flu or mild cold in children. Symptoms in children include fever, cough, shortness of breath. However, other children may experience a stuffy nose, sore throat, diarrhea, nausea and vomiting, fatigue, headache, myalgia, and poor appetite.
Additional symptoms of coronavirus in children, according to the Mayo Clinic, include a runny nose and muscle aches.
Some parents also became concerned about a disease that appears to be closely related to exposure to COVID-19, called MIS-C.
Parents should be aware of Kawasaki disease and MIS-C
Multisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) seems to be associated with # COVID19. The CDC recommends that health care providers report suspected cases to local, state, or territorial health departments. See the Health Notice issued: https://t.co/8CKfrp9sDt pic.twitter.com/nEIZxpvK9t
– CDC (@CDCgov) May 17, 2020
Parents may also be concerned that their children will develop MIS-C, or multi-system inflammatory syndrome, which according to the Mayo Clinic causes certain organs, such as the heart, kidneys, brain, skin, and others, to swell.
The CDC has said, “We know that many children with MIS-C had the virus that causes COVID-19, or had been around someone with COVID-19. MIS-C can be serious, even fatal, but most children who were diagnosed with this condition have improved with medical care. “
The CDC has said that the signs and symptoms of MIS-C include fever, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal or neck pain, rash, red eyes and unusual tiredness (the Mayo Clinic also had redness / swelling of the lips and tongue and redness of hands or feet / swelling on your list). It may be time to call 911 if you are having trouble waking up your child, seem to be having trouble breathing, feel severe pain or pressure in your chest, experience severe stomach pain, show signs of confusion, or your lips or face become bluish .
Parents should also be on the lookout for Kawasaki disease, which tends to occur in children ages six months to eight years, according to a Reuters article on the sudden prevalence of the disease. Kawasaki disease is an inflammatory disease that inflames and inflames blood vessels throughout the body, according to Nationwide Children’s.
However, scientists appear to be debating whether Kawasaki disease and MIS-C were confusing due to the similarity of symptoms; In April, doctors in the United Kingdom noted that there appeared to be an increase in a disease that had symptoms similar to those of Kawasaki, the CDC reported.
The CDC reports to any parent concerned that their child has Kawasaki disease or MIS-C contact a doctor for further advice.
What can parents do to protect their children?
Make handwashing a family activity! Explain to children that washing hands can keep them healthy. Be a good role model: If you wash your hands often, your children are more likely to do the same. See more: https://t.co/6830hQUUr4. # COVID19 pic.twitter.com/zw3VSh5ayt
– CDC (@CDCgov) April 9, 2020
Beyond doing the obvious: keeping young children physically socially estranged, washing their hands, and monitoring them for signs of illness, health agencies also have other suggestions on how to keep young children and toddlers safe.
For example, both the CDC and the Mayo Health Clinic have recommended that all children over the age of two wear cloth masks or face covers when going out into crowded areas.
The CDC is also recommending that parents ensure that their children receive as many vaccines as possible during this pandemic, so that they can be protected against other diseases that could make them more vulnerable to being severely affected by COVID-19; According to the CDC’s immunization schedule, the types of vaccines young children can receive include chickenpox; Diphtheria, tetanus and whooping cough; flu; Hepatitis A and B; measles, mumps and rubella and polio among others.
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