Understanding COVID-19 and how it impacts children is a must for parents. Here, the Ovia Health clinical team answers your questions about COVID-19 and children of all ages.
Does my child need to wear a mask?
Mask requirements will continue to vary, but most children over the age of 2 can still safely mask in high-risk settings to reduce their risk of contracting and spreading COVID-19.
How can I prevent my child from getting COVID-19?
COVID-19 vaccine recommendations continue to evolve. In most cases, high-risk children over 6 months of age should still get the Covid-19 vaccine. Other children may receive the vaccine based on parental preferences and discussions with their pediatric provider. As always, hand washing is an easy and effective way to stay healthy. Staying home when sick, and testing for Covid at home are also helpful to prevent any spread.
Should my child receive the COVID-19 vaccine?
The vaccines manufactured by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are FDA-approved for people ages 6 months and older. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children ages 6 months or older get the COVID-19 vaccine. If your child is 6 months or older, it’s a good idea to speak with their healthcare provider and decide together if getting the vaccine is the best next step. For more information about the vaccines, head here.
Your child’s pediatrician or other healthcare professional is a great resource for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine.
If my child has symptoms that might be COVID-19, what should I do?
First, try an at-home test. If you’re not sure of the results, generally, you should re-test your child 24-48 hours later. Although infants and children can get the virus, they typically have more mild cases than older people do[2]. Call your child’s provider to find out what they would like you to do. Depending on the circumstances, they will have a process in place for getting your child the evaluation and care they need, which might include a phone or video appointment. In the meantime, please do not send your child to school or daycare where they will be around other children. Keeping sick family members isolated in their own bedrooms and using a separate bathroom can help decrease transmission within families. Many families will also mask at home when this is not possible.
The FDA has approved the medication remdesivir as an intravenous treatment for children older than 28 days and heavier than 7 pounds who are at risk for severe disease or who are hospitalized. Paxlovid is an oral medication approved for at-home use in children over 12 at risk for serious disease.
What is Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). What do I need to know?
In early May 2020, doctors in the United Kingdom and the U.S. started reporting a few cases of children who were experiencing inflammation in multiple organs that appeared similar to a rare condition called Kawasaki disease[3]. Kawasaki disease causes swelling and inflammation in the blood vessels of the skin, eyes, and heart, causing symptoms like persistent fever, body rash, swelling in the lymph nodes (neck), swelling of the hands and feet, red eyes, and peeling skin[4].
Again, children are generally less likely than adults to become sick with COVID-19. Very few children with COVID-19 develop this syndrome and almost all of those who do recover well. However, MIS-C can be severe and should be treated quickly to avoid long-term damage to organs. Treatment tends to focus on reducing the inflammation.
My child seems really exhausted or has no appetite after having Covid-19. What should I expect?
Recovering from COVID-19 can be challenging and slow-going for adults and kiddos. This is called Post-Covid Conditions (PCCs), and there is support and treatment when necessary. Very young children or babies may have difficulty expressing how they feel – things like explaining that they can’t taste anything or have no appetite can be impossible. It’s important to remember that it can be normal for there to be several weeks or more of “recovery” when your child is tired, has less appetite or has other lingering symptoms. Being in touch with their provider can offer reassurance and check-ins if they need more investigation (everything from a baby who isn’t gaining weight to a teenage athlete who is still short of breath).
Reviewed by the Ovia Health Clinical Team
