COVID + Kids, What to watch for 

Dana Malcolm

Staff Writer 

September 29, 2023 – COVID-19 is no longer a Public Health Emergency of International Concern, but the disease is still present and can still affect the population including children.

Cough fever and difficulty breathing are only some of the symptoms that young children and babies might experience when infected with the viral illness, according to a report from Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Other symptoms include muscle or body aches; sore throat; loss of taste or smell; diarrhea; headache; fatigue; nausea or vomiting; congestion or runny nose.

Children may not be eloquent enough to properly convey their illness so parents are advised to pay close attention to their complaints and visible symptoms.

Though COVID-19 can be a mild disease for most, there are some cases that warrant immediate emergency medical attention the hospital says. These include:

• Difficulty breathing or catching his or her breath
• Inability to keep down any liquids
• confusion or inability to awaken
• Bluish lips

Both COVID and the flu tend to spike during the winter flu season so parents are advised to take precautions against them including mask wearing in high risk areas and frequent hand washing.