COVID-19: Symptoms, what to do in case of infection, prevention, when to see a doctorSymptoms
Note: children with COVID-19 may have one or more of these symptoms, or no symptoms at all.
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Fever (the most common symptom)
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Cough
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Sore throat
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Runny or stuffy nose
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Muscle pain
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Stomach ache, vomiting, or diarrhea
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Headache
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Fatigue
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Significant loss of appetite
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Sudden loss of smell without a stuffy nose (may also be accompanied by a loss of taste)
Call Info-Santé 811 if your child:
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Is drinking less than usual and peeing less often
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Shows signs of dehydration
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Has a fever that quickly gets worse or returns after your child has been without a fever for at least 24 hours
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Doesn’t seem to be getting better after 7 days or has worsening symptoms
Go to the emergency room immediately if your child:
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Is under 3 months old and has a rectal temperature of 36°C or lower, or 38°C or higher
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Has a fever lasting more than 4 or 5 days despite fever-reducing medication
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Seems very sick, is extremely tired, or is hard to wake up
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Is pale or has an unusual skin colour
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Has trouble breathing or is breathing faster than usual
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Refuses to eat or drink
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Has a chronic illness or a weakened immune system and a fever of over 38.5°C
COVID-19, flu, or cold?The symptoms of the common cold, the flu, and COVID-19 are very similar (cough, runny nose, sore throat, fever, muscle aches, extreme tiredness). That means you can’t really tell which infection your child has based on the symptoms alone. Only a screening test can confirm whether your child has COVID-19. However, public health agencies no longer recommend testing, since the isolation guidelines and symptom treatments are the same for all respiratory infections. |
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory tract infection. It is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is highly contagious. This virus belongs to the coronavirus family, named for its crown-like shape.
Generally, children infected with COVID-19 show only mild symptoms, and some don’t have any symptoms at all. Hospitalizations are very rare, and serious cases are extremely uncommon.
Children seem less affected by COVID-19 than adults. Some data also suggests that children may be less contagious than adults, especially when they have few or no symptoms, which means they are less likely to spread the virus.
However, children can still develop complications after catching COVID-19, such as long COVID or multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C).
Children at risk of complications from COVID-19
Some children need to take extra precautions to avoid getting COVID-19 because they have a higher risk of complications. They are also more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 due to breathing difficulties, pneumonia requiring oxygen, and other issues.
This includes children who:
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Were born very prematurely
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Have heart problems
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Have cystic fibrosis or another chronic lung disease, including uncontrolled asthma
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Have neurological or neuromuscular disorders
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Have sickle cell anemia
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Have cancer
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Have a weakened immune system due to an organ transplant or regular use of steroids
Age: Children of all ages can catch COVID-19. Complications are very rare in children, but babies under 1 year old and children with certain pre-existing health conditions are more susceptible. Onset of symptoms: Symptoms typically appear 5 to 7 days after exposure to the virus, but they can appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days later. Infectious period: The infectious period begins 24 to 48 hours before the onset of symptoms. Experts believe it can last from 8 to 10 days, though research is still being done to determine the exact duration. Isolation period: A child with symptoms of a respiratory infection (cough, sore throat, stuffy nose, loss of taste or smell) can continue attending daycare or school as long as they don’t have a fever. Of course, they should feel well enough to take part in the activities. |
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in childrenMultisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a rare but potentially serious complication of COVID-19 for children aged 0 to 19 years. It usually occurs 2 to 6 weeks after infection with SARS-CoV-2. Early in the pandemic, it was mistaken for Kawasaki disease because the symptoms of both conditions are similar. -
High fever (over 38 °C) lasting at least 3 to 5 days, sometimes longer
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Severe stomach ache, often with vomiting or diarrhea
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Skin rash
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Conjunctivitis
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Swelling of hands and feet
If you think your child might have MIS-C, contact their doctor or go to the emergency room immediately. Children with MIS-C can deteriorate quickly. Prompt treatment helps avoid complications. No deaths related to MIS-C have been reported in Canada. |
How does COVID-19 spread?
Some COVID-19 variants seem more contagious than others.
COVID-19 mainly spreads through close contact with an infected person lasting more than 15 minutes. The virus can be transmitted through contact with:
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Secretions from the nose or mouth of an infected person
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Tiny droplets the infected person releases into the air when breathing, talking, singing, coughing, sneezing, etc.
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Touching a contaminated surface and then touching the eyes, nose, or mouth
People who have COVID without symptoms can spread the illness, even if they have been vaccinated.
COVID-19 and pregnancyThe risk of catching COVID-19 doesn’t seem to be higher for pregnant women. However, they are more likely to experience severe symptoms if they catch the infection during the second or third trimester—especially if they are 35 or older or have high blood pressure, pre-existing diabetes, obesity, or chronic respiratory problems. Premature birth, preeclampsia, and fetal death are the main complications of severe COVID-19 during pregnancy. Fortunately, these complications are rare. |
Treating COVID-19 in children
Make sure your child is comfortable
- Dress them in light clothing, especially if they have a fever, and keep the room temperature around 20°C.
- Make sure they get plenty of rest. You don’t have to keep your child in bed all day, but they do need rest.
- Clear your child’s nose with saline solution if they’re congested. To learn how, see our article on cleaning and blowing a stuffy nose.
- Make sure your child is getting enough fluids and has no signs of dehydration, especially if they’re vomiting or have diarrhea. If they have signs of dehydration, you can give them a rehydration solution from a pharmacy (for example, Pedialyte®). Ask your pharmacist for advice.
- If your child is over 4 years old, soothe their sore throat by giving them ice chips or lozenges containing honey, medicinal herbs (e.g., peppermint, lemon balm, thyme, sage, linden, hyssop), or pectin.
- If your child is coughing a lot at night, raise the head of their bed to at least a 30-degree angle (semi-upright position). You can do this by placing cushions or pillows under the mattress. If your child is older and uses a pillow, elevate their head with an extra pillow.
- Watch for worsening symptoms like difficulty breathing, rapid breathing, confusion, or bluish lips. If these signs appear, your child should see a doctor.
- If your child has one or more risk factors for severe COVID-19, inform their doctor about the infection. In some cases, the doctor may prescribe targeted antiviral therapies.
Appropriate medication
If your child is over 3 months old and has a rectal temperature above 38°C (100.4°F), you can give them acetaminophen (such as Tylenol® or Tempra®), following the product instructions and based on your child’s weight.
If your child is over 6 months old and acetaminophen does not reduce their fever, you can give them ibuprofen (such as Advil® or Motrin®), but discuss it first with a healthcare professional (pharmacist or physician).
Never give acetylsalicylic acid (such as Aspirin®) to a child or teen under the age of 18.
Precautions to avoid spreading the infection at home
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Wash your hands often.
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Clean and disinfect toys and frequently touched surfaces, such as door handles and faucets.
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Make sure your child does not share personal items (cups, utensils, etc.), food, or drinks with other family members.
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Open a window regularly to air out your home and your child’s room, if possible.
Signs of dehydrationThe main signs of dehydration in babies and children are: -
No urination for 6 hours in babies and no urination for more than 8 hours in older children
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Sunken fontanelles (soft spots on the top of a baby’s head)
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Cold skin that doesn’t bounce back quickly when pinched
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Irritability, drowsiness
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How to prevent COVID-19
There are measures that can reduce the spread of the coronavirus. Teach them to your child, if they’re old enough.
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Wash your hands frequently with soap.
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Sneeze and cough into a tissue or the crook of your elbow, not your hand.
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Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
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Clean toys and frequently touched surfaces like doorknobs and taps.
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Avoid contact with people who have a cold or are coughing.
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Open doors and windows regularly to air out the house during gatherings. A few minutes at a time is enough if it’s cold.
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For children 6 months or older, have them vaccinated against COVID-19.
Asthma and COVID-19Children with asthma aren’t more likely to catch COVID-19, but they are at higher risk of complications if they do get infected. Uncontrolled asthma increases the risk of hospitalization from COVID. Any respiratory virus can trigger an asthma attack. The main recommendation is to keep avoiding known triggers and to take all prescribed medication to keep the condition under control. |
| Scientific review: Dr. Isabelle Viel-Thériault, pediatrician and infectious disease specialist at CHU de Québec – Université Laval Research and copywriting:The Naître et grandir team
January 2025
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Photo: GettyImage/Igor Bostanika
Sources and references
Note: The links to other websites are not updated regularly, and some URLs may have changed since publication. If a link is no longer active, please use search engines to find the relevant information.
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Autmizguine, Julie, et al. “AMMI Canada Practice Point on the treatment of acute COVID-19 in pediatrics.” Journal of the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Disease Canada, vol. 7, no. 4, 2022. utppublishing.com
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Cui, Xiaojian, et al. “A systematic review and meta-analysis of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).” Journal of Medical Virology, vol. 93, no. 2, 2021, pp. 1057–1069. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
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Gouvernement du Québec. “Symptoms, transmission and treatment (COVID-19).” Gouvernement du Québec. 2024. quebec.ca
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Gouvernement du Québec. “Educational childcare services in the context of viral respiratory infections including COVID-19.” Gouvernement du Québec. 2024. quebec.ca
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Gouvernement du Québec. “COVID-19 vaccination.” Gouvernement du Québec. 2025. quebec.ca
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Mayo Clinic Staff. “COVID-19 in babies and children.” Mayo Clinic. 2024. mayoclinic.org
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Canadian Paediatric Society. “COVID-19 and your child.” Caring for Kids. 2025. caringforkids.cps.ca
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Berard, R.A., et al. “Practice point: Paediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome temporally associated with COVID-19.” Canadian Paediatric Society. 2021. cps.ca
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Abrams, Elissa, et al. “Practice point: Paediatric asthma and COVID-19.” Canadian Paediatric Society. 2020. cps.ca
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