Are COVID-19 Symptoms In Children The Same As Adults?

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, most of us are now familiar with the major signs and symptoms to screen ourselves and others for. Even elementary school-aged children are likely to identify cough and fever as possible symptoms of coronavirus. With the tremendous amount of conflicting information available about COVID-19, however, it may be difficult to understand how the virus affects children versus adults, and whether or not there is a difference in symptoms between age groups. As we get further into the fall season, complete with face-to-face learning and school sports, it is more important than ever to know how to recognize the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and how to protect both yourself and your child from contracting and/or spreading the virus.

 

The knowledgeable team of board-certified emergency room physicians and professional staff at iCare ER & Urgent Care in Fort Worth and Frisco, TX is dedicated to providing quick, accurate, and reliable testing for COVID-19 should you or your child develop symptoms that suggest possible exposure to coronavirus. Use this helpful information to find out which signs and symptoms to look for when screening for COVID-19 in children and what to do if you think your child has COVID-19.

 

What are the symptoms of coronavirus in kids?

People of any age can contract COVID-19, and the nature of COVID-19 symptoms is fairly similar regardless of the patient’s age. In many cases, however, kids with COVID-19 have more mild symptoms than adults. Both adults and children can also experience an asymptomatic case of COVID-19, meaning they receive a positive COVID-19 test without ever showing symptoms of illness. Some of the most common signs and symptoms of coronavirus include:

 

• Cough
• Fever
• Chills
• Body aches
• Headache
• Sore throat
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Loss of taste or smell

 

While children with COVID-19 may have mild symptoms or be completely asymptomatic, some children are more likely to experience serious complications from COVID-19 than others. Children at increased risk for severe illness related to coronavirus exposure include:

 

• Infants or babies under 12 months old
• Children with underlying medical conditions (diabetes, asthma, heart disease, etc.)
• Overweight children

 

How can I tell if my child has COVID-19 or flu?

Because many of the symptoms of COVID-19 are similar to flu symptoms, it can be difficult to determine which illness your child has without a definitive test. If you or your child is exhibiting symptoms indicative of the flu and/or COVID-19, visit your nearest ER to get tested for both viruses as soon as possible. At both of our locations in Frisco and Fort Worth, iCare ER & Urgent Care offers influenza testing as well as three highly accurate, rapid, and reliable forms of COVID-19 testing, including the coronavirus antibody test.

 

How is COVID-19 spread?

Current research suggests that COVID-19 is spread primarily through respiratory droplets that are released from a person’s nose or mouth as they talk, laugh, cough, sneeze, scream, etc. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect both yourself and others, you should:

 

• Wear a mask or face covering
• Practice social distancing
• Wash your hands regularly and use hand sanitizer when available
• Avoid close contact with persons outside your household
• Clean and disinfect surfaces regularly
• Be aware of symptoms and self-screen regularly

 

It is important to understand that even when a person experiences an asymptomatic case of COVID-19, he or she can still spread the virus to others. For this reason, it is recommended by the CDC that adults and children over the age of two should wear masks at all times in public when social distancing is not possible and/or when in close contact with high-risk individuals, persons outside their own household, and infected persons they are caring for.

 

What should I do if my child tests positive for COVID-19?

While awaiting your child’s test results, they should stay home from school and other activities and avoid contact with others in the household as much as possible. If your child does test positive for COVID-19, you should notify his or her school immediately, as well as any other groups or individuals that your child may have come into contact with. Because you will still need to provide basic care for your child, it is important to protect yourself and your other family members from contracting the virus as much as possible by:

 

• Keeping the sick child in his or her own room as much as possible
• Having the sick child use a separate bathroom
• Having the sick child eat meals separately from other family members
• Having all family members, including the sick child, wear a mask
• Cleaning and disinfecting regularly
• Limiting direct contact with the sick child
• Isolating pets from the sick child
• Screening yourself and other family members for COVID-19 symptoms

 

As parents, we never want to see our child ill and certainly want to be able to comfort them in times of sickness. Although it may be difficult to limit close physical contact, you can still provide comfort and care as your child recovers from COVID-19 while protecting yourself and others from contracting the virus.

 

Prevent the spread of coronavirus by knowing what symptoms to look for and getting your child tested for COVID-19 in North Texas

Whether a person is 6 or 76, he or she can contract coronavirus and develop mild to severe symptoms, including cough and fever. While children are often asymptomatic or have less severe symptoms than adults, they are still capable of transmitting the illness to a healthy individual, which could potentially have fatal consequences. Ensure the health and safety of yourself, your children, and others by understanding the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and knowing when to seek testing.

 

If you suspect that you or your child may have been exposed to COVID-19 or have symptoms consistent with COVID-19, visit your nearest iCare ER & Urgent Care location in either Fort Worth or Frisco, TX to receive accurate, quick COVID-19 test results today.