Children's COVID-19 symptoms

While children and adults experience similar symptoms of COVID-19, children's symptoms tend to be mild and cold-like. Most children recover within one to two weeks. Possible symptoms can include:

• Fever
• Cough that becomes productive
• New loss of taste or smell
• Changes in the skin, such as discolored areas on the feet and hands
• Sore throat
• Gastrointestinal symptoms, such as nausea, vomiting, belly pain or diarrhea
• Chills
• Muscle aches and pain
• Extreme fatigue
• New severe headache
• New nasal congestion

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 and you think he or she might have COVID-19, call your child's doctor. Keep your child at home and away from others as much as possible, except to get medical care. If possible, have your child use a separate bedroom and bathroom from family members. Follow recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) and your government regarding quarantine and isolation measures as appropriate.

If your child has COVID-19 and can be treated at home, focus on relieving his or her symptoms. This might include rest, fluid intake and pain relievers.

Factors used to decide whether to test your child for COVID-19 may differ depending on where you live. In the U.S., the doctor will determine whether to conduct diagnostic tests for COVID-19 based on your child's signs and symptoms, as well as whether your child has had close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19. The doctor may also consider testing if your child is at higher risk of serious illness.

To test for COVID-19, a health care provider uses a long swab to take a sample from the back of the nose (nasopharyngeal swab). The sample is then sent to a lab for testing. If your child is coughing up phlegm (sputum), that may be sent for testing.