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Is Covid-19 coronavirus less severe in babies and children?
by Diane Rai | Medically reviewed by Dr Saroja Balan, Paediatrician and Neonatologist | July 2022 |
Babies, toddlers, and young children can be infected with coronavirus, but they often show milder symptoms than adults. The infection in children tends to be less severe than in adults.
This might be why fewer children are diagnosed with the virus. But even children with mild viral symptoms, or no symptoms at all, can have the virus and pass it on to others.
That's why it's important for children to stick to guidelines on hygiene, staying at home and social distancing just as it is for adults. This will make them less likely to get or pass on the infection and help protect others who may be at risk of getting severe symptoms.
While tragically there have been reports of children and even babies dying from the illness, these are very rare. It is unknown whether any underlying health problems may also have been present.
You may also have seen news stories about a serious inflammatory condition in children linked to coronavirus. It is rare but needs immediate medical attention. The syndrome causes inflammation of the internal organs. It is called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). It's similar to another condition that causes internal organ inflammation called Kawasaki's disease.
The main symptoms of this rare complication are:
a continuous fever
a rash
painful or swollen hands and feet
Most children with this condition were treated successfully and recovered fully, but immediate treatment is important. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, go to your nearest emergency unit for medical help.
It still stands that children are among the least likely to become seriously ill because of coronavirus and most will only get mild symptoms.
What is the evidence for children being less affected by Covid-19?
A study of the outbreak in China examined over 2,000 patients with coronavirus, all of whom were under the age of 18. More than nine out of ten children either had no symptoms, or mild to moderate symptoms.
However, the study also showed that babies were more likely to get serious symptoms than older children. In China, severe symptoms, such as shortness of breath or severe difficulty in breathing, affected the following age groups at different rates:
Babies under 12 months: one in ten
One to five year olds: one in 14
Six to 15 year olds: one in 24
16 to 17 year olds: one in 33
There were no deaths in babies or young children in the study, but sadly, there have been a few since then in different parts of the world.
While it's possible for babies and children to become seriously ill from coronavirus, the fact remains that they have a much lower risk of serious infection and death, than the middle-aged and elderly.
Most people who have tested positive for coronavirus after showing symptoms are aged between 40 years and 69 years old. Most deaths from coronavirus are in people aged over 60 years. Sadly, the likelihood of dying increases with age and the majority of people that died had at least one underlying disease, such as a heart condition, diabetes or a chronic respiratory condition. This is why measures have been taken to protect people aged 70 or over and those who already have poor health.
Why does Covid-19 affect children less?
It may seem unusual for a virus like this to affect children less seriously. But many diseases pose a greater danger to adults than children.
For example, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), a virus very similar to Covid-19, that spread from China to other Asian countries in 2002, largely spared children under 12 years. Chickenpox usually gets better without incident in children, but is more likely to cause serious complications in adults. Even flu, although it results in many children being admitted to hospital, has a much higher mortality rate in adults.
Experts believe adults, especially those who are older, may be more likely than children to have severe coronavirus symptoms because:
The body's immune system weakens with age.
Older people are more likely to have underlying health problems, such as heart disease or cancer.
Of course flu, and other diseases can still be dangerous for children, so it's best to get the recommended vaccinations for your child as soon as you can.
Learn more about how you can protect your baby or toddler from Covid-19 in our article on coronavirus in babies and children.
यह लेख हिंदी में पढ़ें: क्या कोरोना वायरस (कोविड-19) शिशुओं और बच्चों को कम प्रभावित करता है?
Best ways to take your baby's temperature: photos
Learn about the common cold in babies
Read up on flu in babies
Diane Rai
Diane Rai is BabyCenter India's Editor.
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