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COVID-19 in Children & Teens

Information for parents and caregivers about COVID-19 in children and teens

Updated Mar. 17, 2021

What you need to know

Children & teens can get COVID-19.

While fewer children have been sick with COVID-19 compared to adults, children can be infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, can get sick from COVID-19, and can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others. Children, like adults, who have COVID-19 but have no symptoms (“asymptomatic”) can still spread the virus to others.

Most children with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or have no symptoms at all. However, some children can get severely ill from COVID-19. They might require hospitalization, intensive care, or a ventilator to help them breathe. In rare cases, they might die.

CDC and partners are investigating a rare but serious medical condition associated with COVID-19 in children called Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C). We do not yet know what causes MIS-C and who is at increased risk for developing it. Learn more about MIS-C.

Babies under 1 year old and children with certain underlying conditions may be more likely to have severe illness from COVID-19.

Babies under 1 year old might be more likely to have severe illness from COVID-19. Other children, regardless of age, with the following underlying medical conditions might also be at increased risk of severe illness compared to other children:

Asthma or chronic lung disease

Diabetes

Genetic, neurologic, or metabolic conditions

Sickle cell disease

Heart disease since birth

Immunosuppression (weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or being on medications that weaken the immune system)

Medical complexity (children with multiple chronic conditions that affect many parts of the body, or are dependent on technology and other significant supports for daily life)

Obesity

This list does not include every underlying condition that might increase the risk for severe illness in children. As more information becomes available, CDC will continue to update and share information about risk for severe illness among children.
If your child has an underlying condition, make sure to discuss your child’s potential for getting very sick with their healthcare provider. Symptoms of COVID-19 are similar in adults and children and can look like symptoms of other common illnesses such as colds, strep throat, or allergies. The most common symptoms of COVID-19 in children are fever and cough, but children may have any of these signs or symptoms of COVID-19:

Fever or chills

Cough

Nasal congestion or runny nose

New loss of taste or smell

Sore throat

Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

Diarrhea

Nausea or vomiting

Stomachache

Tiredness

Headache

Muscle or body aches

Poor appetite or poor feeding, especially in babies under 1 year old

What you can do

Monitor your child for COVID-19 symptoms.

Pay particular attention to:

Fever (temperature 100.4 °F or higher)

Sore throat

New uncontrolled cough that causes difficulty breathing (for a child with chronic allergic/asthmatic cough, see if there is a change from their usual cough)

Diarrhea, vomiting, or stomachache

New onset of severe headache, especially with a fever

Keep track of who your child comes into close contact with

If your child or you were around someone who has COVID-19, someone from the health department may contact you for contact tracing. Speak with them and follow their advice.

Take steps to protect your child if you are sick and slow the spread of COVID-19.

To learn more about how to protect yourself from the virus that causes COVID-19 visit the How to Protect Yourself and Others page.

Keep your child home and call their healthcare provider if your child gets sick

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19:

Keep your child home.

Consider whether your child needs to see a healthcare provider and be tested for COVID-19. CDC recommends all people with symptoms of COVID-19, including children, get tested. CDC has a Coronavirus Self Checker available in its website, which may help you make decisions about seeking medical care for possible COVID-19.

Protect yourself from COVID-19 while caring for your sick child by wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, monitoring yourself for symptoms for COVID-19, and using other preventive measures.

Notify your child’s school that your child is sick. Also inform the school if your child has had a COVID-19 test and what the result is, if available.

Review your child’s school (or other childcare facility) policies related to when a child who has been sick can return.

Bring your child back to school or other in-person activities only after they can safely be around others.

In a medical emergency, call 911 or bring your child to the emergency department.

Do not delay seeking emergency care for your child because you are worried about the spread of COVID-19. Emergency departments have infection prevention plans to protect you and your child from getting sick with COVID-19 if your child needs emergency care.
If your child is showing any of these emergency warning signs, seek emergency medical care immediately.

Trouble breathing

Pain or pressure in the chest that doesn’t go away

New confusion

Can’t wake up or stay awake when not tired

Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds, depending on skin tone

This list does not include all possible symptoms.
Call your child’s healthcare provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.