What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Coronavirus (COVID-19)?
Infection can cause a range of symptoms. Most common are fever, sore throat, cough, trouble breathing, and gastrointestinal problems like bellyache, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Other complaints include headaches, muscle aches, loss of taste and smell, and cold symptoms. The virus can be more serious in some people. And some people have no symptoms at all.
Some kids get symptoms caused by inflammation throughout the body, sometimes several weeks after they were infected with the virus. It can affect many different body systems, including the lungs, heart, brain, kidneys, blood vessels, skin, eyes, and gastrointestinal system. This is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).
Most kids with MIS-C get better after they get special care in the hospital, sometimes in the ICU (intensive care unit).
What Should I Do if My Child Has Covid-19 Symptoms?
Call us if your child has a fever, cough, trouble breathing, sore throat, belly pain, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, dizziness, or just doesn’t feel well. If your child has been near someone with COVID-19 or been in an area where lots of people have it, make sure to mention this. Talk about whether your child needs a test for COVID-19. Our doctors can decide if the child:
- Can be treated at home.
- Should come in for a visit.
- Can have a video or telehealth visit.
In a telehealth visit, our health care providers can see your child on video while you stay at home. If the doctor thinks your child needs care right away, they will guide you on where to go.Watch for signs that your child might need more medical help. Go to the ER if your child:
- Looks very sick to you.
- Has breathing problems.
- Look for muscles pulling in between the ribs
- Has nostrils puffing out with each breath.
- Is confused or very sleepy.
- Has chest pain.
- Has cold, sweaty, pale or blotchy skin.
- Is experiencing dizziness
- Has very bad belly pain.
Call 911 if your child is struggling to breathe, is too out of breath to talk or walk, or turns blue or has fainted.
