Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)

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Find information about coronaviruses and COVID-19. Learn about the signs and symptoms of COVID-19, who is at greatest risk, how it is spread, how it is diagnosed and how to prevent spread of the virus. Also find out what to do if you think your child may have COVID-19 and what to do if they have been diagnosed with COVID-19.

Key points

Most people who become ill with COVID-19 will recover on their own.
COVID-19 is an infection caused by SARS-CoV-2, a respiratory virus that spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person.
There are things you can do to lower your risk of getting COVID-19, such as washing your hands frequently, avoiding touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands, avoiding close contact with others, keeping at least two metres from others outside your household and keeping up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines, as eligible.

Introduction

What are coronaviruses and COVID-19?

Coronaviruses (CoV) are a common and large family of viruses. Coronaviruses can cause a mild illness such as the common cold to a more severe illness such as pneumonia (infection of the lungs). Most people who become ill with a coronavirus will recover on their own with no specific antiviral treatment.

A new strain of coronavirus was identified in late 2019 and has spread across the globe, which has been named SARS-CoV-2. The disease that it causes is named COVID-19 (Coronavirus disease 2019). Because there has been worldwide spread of COVID-19, the outbreak was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO) on March 11, 2020. In children COVID-19 generally causes a mild illness compared to adults. Children with COVID-19 can however develop severe disease and spread the infection to others.

Signs and symptoms

What are COVID-19 signs and symptoms?

Your child may have COVID-19 if they have some or all of the following symptoms:

fever
cough or sneezing
sore throat
difficulty breathing or fast breathing
body aches
headache
chills
fatigue
diarrhea and vomiting
runny or stuffy nose
loss of the sense of smell or taste

Once infected, symptoms can take up to 14 days to appear. Some people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. In more severe cases people can have difficulty breathing and pneumonia in one or both lungs.

There is a rare condition that is related to COVID-19 and develops in children one to two months after they have had the infection. This condition is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This condition is a delayed immune response marked by fevers and inflammation of organs in the body, including the heart, lungs and brain. There are effective treatments for this condition. Read the article on MIS-C to learn more about this condition.

Causes, risk factors and prevalence

Who is at greatest risk of getting COVID-19?

In general, it has been observed that serious illness from COVID-19 in children is less common than it is in adults. A small number of studies have suggested that children with underlying chronic health conditions such as obesity, severe neurodisability, chronic respiratory and cardiac conditions are at higher risk for serious illness compared with other children their age.

Spread, phase, course of disease

How does COVID-19 spread?

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is a respiratory virus that spreads mainly through close contact with an infected person. The virus can be transmitted through droplets and aerosols projected from the nose or mouth of an infected person through coughing or exhaling which can then be breathed in by other people nearby. These droplets can also land on objects or surfaces and infect other people when they touch these objects or surfaces and then touch their face before washing their hands. Many people with COVID-19 experience only mild symptoms, especially during the early phase of the disease. You can get COVID-19 from someone who is only experiencing very mild symptoms or even no symptoms at all.

Diagnosis

How is COVID-19 diagnosed?

A diagnosis of COVID-19 is usually suspected based on symptoms and can be confirmed by laboratory testing. Testing may be required depending on exposure history with someone who was diagnosed with COVID-19, symptoms that are concerning for COVID-19, or as a screen before a planned procedure. A PCR test is commonly used and involves putting a swab into a person’s nostrils in order to get a sample from the back of their nose. PCR tests are very sensitive and accurate. Refer to the most updated Ontario general guidelines for information on who should be tested for COVID-19 and ways of accessing testing. Ontario also distributes Rapid Antigen Tests (RAT) for at-home use.

Treatment

Is there any treatment available for COVID-19?

Most people will generally recover from COVID-19 on their own without any specific antiviral or other prescription drug treatment. Antibiotics are not recommended for people with mild symptoms. Your health-care provider may recommend steps you can take to relieve symptoms.

Other treatment options can be discussed if someone requires hospitalization for COVID-19 due to serious symptoms.

What should I do if my child has been diagnosed with COVID-19?

If your child has been diagnosed with COVID-19 and remains well with mild symptoms, they may remain at home throughout their recovery. If you have concerns about your child’s health or are unsure, you should contact your child’s primary health-care provider or Health811 (811 | TTY: 1-866-797-0007). Bring your child to the emergency room and/or call an ambulance if your child develops more serious symptoms as described below.

Prevention

What are effective measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19?

Vaccination has been shown to be effective against COVID-19. Individuals who are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, including children six months of age and older, should receive the vaccine. Read the article on COVID-19 vaccines to learn more about them.
Like other respiratory viruses, including influenza, it is recommended that you wash your hands frequently by using soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not readily available, an alcohol-based hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol can also be used.
Try not to touch your face, nose and eyes.
Practice cough etiquette by keeping a distance from other people and coughing and sneezing into your flexed elbow or using a tissue to cover your mouth and nose. If you use a tissue, throw it away immediately and then wash your hands.
Avoid close contact with people who have a fever or cough as feasible.
Masking is recommended in areas where there are individuals at high risk (ex. Long-Term Care).
When visiting SickKids, masks are recommended to children able and willing to wear masks safely – generally children two years of age and older. SickKids is providing masks to all family caregivers and children. Masks will be provided at the entrances to the hospital.

When to seek medical attention

Should I bring my child to the hospital if I suspect they have COVID-19?

If your child has mild symptoms and remains well, it may not be necessary to seek medical attention. You can use the Ontario COVID-19 self-assessment tool for guidance. If you have other concerns or are unsure, you should contact your child’s primary health-care provider or Health811 (811 | TTY: 1-866-797-0007).

You should come to the hospital right away if your child has the following symptoms:

fast breathing or trouble breathing
bluish skin color
not drinking enough fluids
not waking up or not interacting
being so irritable that the child does not want to be held

In case of an emergency, call an ambulance and tell the emergency services team you are concerned your child may have COVID-19.

References

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, March 28). Frequently Asked Questions and Answers. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/faq.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, March 4). How COVID-2019 Spreads. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/transmission.html

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, March 18). Prevention & Treatment. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/about/prevention-treatment.html

Government of Canada. (2020, March 31). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19): Frequently asked questions (FAQ). Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/2019-novel-coronavirus-infection/frequently-asked-questions.html

Government of Canada. (2020, March 31). Coronavirus infection: Symptoms and treatment. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/diseases/coronavirus.html

Government of Canada. (2020, March 25). New Order Makes Self-Isolation Mandatory for Individuals Entering Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/news/2020/03/new-order-makes-self-isolation-mandatory-for-individuals-entering-canada.html

World Health Organization. (2020, March 18). Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) advice for the public. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/advice-for-public

World Health Organization. (2020, March 9). Q&A on coronaviruses. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/news-room/q-a-detail/q-a-coronaviruses

Last updated: November 29th 2022