Is it Covid-19 if my kid has the sniffles?

At this time of year, most parents expect children to come home from school with a cold at some point. However, since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, some of the symptoms of a cold now seem a lot more worrying. As we still don’t know that much about how COVID-19 affects children, how can you distinguish between what is something seasonal that will quickly pass and what could be a sign of the virus?

The common cold

When children develop a cold it usually comes on gradually and the symptoms can last for up to a week. Your child might be coughing and sneezing – if they have had a cold before then the cough will probably sound a lot like last time. Other symptoms of a cold include a headache and muscle aches, a runny nose, water eyes, tiredness and a sore throat. A cold can also trigger a fever but only a low-grade one.

COVID-19

Some of the symptoms of COVID-19 in children are similar to a cold, including a sore throat, headache, muscle aches, a runny nose, and nasal congestion. Your child may also have a cough but the COVID-19 cough is likely to sound different to anything they have had before and a lot more uncontrolled. There are also other symptoms of COVID-19 that can help you to distinguish between this and a cold, including:

• A loss of smell or taste
• Nausea, vomiting and a stomach ache
• Shortness of breath
• A fever higher than 100.4°F
• Unusual tiredness and intense body aches

When should you seek emergency help?

Although there is clearly some overlap between the common cold and the symptoms of COVID-19 there are also some symptoms that if you notice in your child you should get emergency help straight away. For example:

• Your child is confused or is having trouble waking up
• Their lips or skin have a bluish tinge
• They are experiencing intense chest pain or a feeling of constant chest pressure

Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome

Mortality rates for COVID-19 are a lot higher in adults and the older population, which means that we don’t tend to view the virus as a problem for our children. However, while we still don’t know that much about how COVID-19 affects children there have been instances where it has led to complications, including Multi-system Inflammatory Syndrome. If your child has symptoms that could be COVID-19 then it’s essential to look out for signs of this complication, which can be serious. Symptoms include bloodshot eyes, red cracked lips, a high fever, rash and a pain in the abdomen.

If in doubt, test

With COVID tests now so freely available there is no reason not to do a test on your child if they have symptoms that could be a sign of the virus – or have been in contact with someone who has had it. Many children catch COVID-19 but are asymptomatic but others do show signs. You’ll not only be able to handle their situation better with the knowledge of a test result but to protect others in the community who might be more vulnerable too.

Harley Street is the UK’s foremost private medical centre which is dedicated to providing high-quality care for your ear, nose, throat, head & neck, and balance-related disorders. Find out more information on the ENT Services we provide at The Harley Street ENT Clinic.