Many children spent much of the school year 2020 – 2021 in virtual mode, due to the COVID pandemic – 19. This year, although COVID – 19 remains a risk, many adults have been vaccinated and children return to face-to-face mode in most schools. But as anyone who cares for a child knows, when children are together, germs spread. That means that children get different viruses.
Unfortunately, most symptoms, “mild or severe, from vomiting and diarrhea to stuffy or runny nose, can be found on any cold, flu and COVID – 10, ”says Claire Boogaard, MD, pediatrician at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, DC
Because it is so difficult to tell one virus from another at home, “what we recommend is that anyone with these symptoms get tested for COVID,” says Sean O’Leary , MD, professor of pediatrics at the University of Colorado School of Medicine and infectious disease specialist at Children’s Hospital Colorado. In some schools it is even a requirement.
Although you should never send a child to school sick with something contagious, it is especially important that your child stay home until you know that does not have COVID – 19. Exposure could put unvaccinated individuals (including high-risk children) at risk, and other students may need to self-quarantine for 10 days. A child who has been exposed to the coronavirus will also need to stay home for a period of time. Anyone exposed should have a PCR test 3-5 days after exposure, says Amna Husain, MD, a pediatrician who works in New Jersey and a spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics.
In general, “it has been a season of respiratory problems remarkable, ”says O’Leary. Last winter, with many isolated people at home, there was little circulation of respiratory viruses such as influenza and RSV (respiratory syncytial virus, which is typically spread in winter, and can be dangerous for very young children and the elderly). But this summer, there was a significant increase in off-season RSV, which helped fill pediatric emergency rooms, along with Delta-variant coronavirus infections.
Could it be COVID – 19, influenza, a cold, or something else?
It is important to reiterate that because COVID – 19 shares symptoms with a long list of other diseases, anyone with symptoms should be tested for COVID – 19. But there are some traits of various viruses that you can use to try to distinguish one virus from another.
Before the pandemic, many pediatricians would have said that it is not important to know which pathogen a virus has. child, unless he’s very sick, says Boogaard. In general, home treatment for most circulating viruses is the same: rest, hydration, and relief from fever and discomfort. If it’s flu season and a pediatrician notices early on that a child has the flu, they may be prescribed antiviral Tamiflu, which can help them recover faster if given early, says Husain.
These are some of the things that are normally seen with the spread of respiratory viruses at this time:
COVID – 19: the only symptom that is a lot more common with COVID – 19 than with other respiratory viruses is loss of taste and / or odor, says O’Leary. Other viruses can affect these senses, but at this time, most pediatricians consider the symptom to be a fairly telltale sign of a COVID case – 19, and may be the only one that appears in children who would otherwise be asymptomatic.
In general, the symptoms of COVID – 19 appear gradually, over a period of a few days, but there may be a sudden escalation of these. Some other common symptoms include fever and cough. Gastrointestinal symptoms such as diarrhea, nausea, and vomiting sometimes occur. Some children may experience shortness of breath – a sign that should prompt you to call your pediatrician or, in severe cases, take them to the emergency room. Symptoms may last several weeks.
Respiratory syncytial virus: RSV tends to be mild, but can intensify suddenly. In pediatric cases, the greatest concern is in children younger than 6 months, or those younger than 2 years with lung or heart disease, who may experience severe respiratory problems that require hospitalization. (In older children, RSV infections often cause a cold-like illness.) Fevers are common, as are coughs, sore throats, runny noses, and sneezing. O’Leary says pediatricians often identify an RSV cough from the moment they hear the child cough in the hallway, and can quickly diagnose the virus with a test, if needed.
Influenza: the flu can be serious for children , and it is important to vaccinate them now that the flu season has begun. According to Boogaard, the flu is often characterized by its abrupt onset, symptoms tend to appear much more quickly than with other respiratory illnesses. Sore throat, fever, fatigue, cough, headache, and body aches are all common symptoms and gastrointestinal symptoms sometimes occur.
Colds: Colds are caused by many different viruses, including other coronaviruses and rhinoviruses, says Boogaard. Because of this, the timing of onset and typical symptoms vary, he says. But symptoms typically flare after 3 to 5 days. Most children get better in 7 to 10 days, although the cough may last a couple of weeks.
Allergies: Allergies can cause a number of symptoms that are observed with other respiratory viruses, such as runny nose, congestion, sneezing, and watery eyes. But if your child develops a fever, that is not caused by allergies, says Boogaard. And if you’re taking allergy medications but start to develop new symptoms, that’s another sign that you need to be screened.
Treatment and emergency signs
In most cases, children can be treated at home for a respiratory virus, says Husain. Rest is essential, and hydration is also important. Let them drink what they want, hot liquids like soups can help, he says. Saline drops can help clear your nasal passages, which can decrease coughing or congestion.
It’s okay to give children fever-reducing medications, such as acetaminophen or infant ibuprofen, Husain says. But doctors do not recommend any cough medicine for children younger than 6 years old, as these can cause changes in the heart rhythm and pose a serious risk.
It’s always a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician when he’s sick, Husain says, so he can monitor things and give you some guidance on the red flags to go for. you should pay attention.
Some emergency signs include the inability to retain fluids or stay hydrated. Young children should have 3-5 wet diapers, they should be capable of producing tears, and their tongues should not look dry. If a child seems to be having trouble breathing, he should be checked by his pediatrician, or taken to the hospital, if it is clear that he is having a hard time breathing. Signs of breathing problems include wheezing or seeing that the ribs or chest strain to draw in air. If it’s difficult to wake children up, beyond normal tiredness, or keep them awake, that lethargy is also an emergency sign, says Boogaard.
If your child tests positive for COVID test – support at home . Doing so will be much easier if you’ve been vaccinated, says Boogaard. If not, try to find a vaccinated adult who can care for him. As much as you can, it’s good to try to isolate a sick person and wear a mask when interacting with them, he says, although that’s not always possible with younger children.
Return to school or daycare
Many schools have policies that determine when children can return after testing positive for COVID – 19, or having been exposed to the virus. Due to these policies, children may also need a negative COVID test and / or a pediatrician’s note to return after having any symptoms.
For other viruses, you need to make sure that the children have not had a fever for 24 hours without medication before taking them back to school. If they have been vomiting or have diarrhea, that too needs to be resolved before they return.
Cough can last two weeks after a cold, although it may last longer in children with allergies or asthma . Usually kids can go back to school with that persistent cough, just ask your pediatrician for a note, if necessary.
Vaccinate your child against COVID – 19 , when there is a licensed vaccine for children, it will make things easier at this confusing time, says Boogaard, who is also the medical director of the Covid Vaccine Program – 19 at Children’s National Hospital. And if your child has not received other vaccines, such as measles, due to the pandemic, it is important to do it as soon as possible. “Many of these diseases are more serious in children than COVID,” says O’Leary.
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Consumer Reports has no financial relationship with the advertisers on this site. Consumer Reports is an independent nonprofit organization that works with consumers to create a just, safe, and healthy world. CR does not endorse products or services and does not accept advertising. Copyright © 2021, Consumer Reports, Inc.