If children get infected with the virus, they usually have a much milder form of COVID-19 than adults.
Some children may become very sick with COVID-19, especially if they have other health problems, like malnutrition, TB, HIV, asthma and other chest problems or long-term illnesses.
If your child gets sick, it may be from COVID-19 or from other health problems. Check your child for:
- faster breathing or difficulty breathing
- not finishing their food as normal, or poor sucking, if breastfeeding or on a bottle
- vomiting everything
- severe diarrhoea
- not playing as usual
- feeling hot to touch (fever)
If you are worried:
- If you think it is an emergency, call an ambulance. Tell them that the child has had contact with someone with COVID-19.
- If your child has a long-term/chronic health problem, call your regular clinic or doctor for advice.
- If your child has always been healthy, call your nearest clinic or hospital for advice.
- If your child must go to a clinic or hospital, someone who is well and without COVID-19 should take him/her there safely, using precautions.
- This person should tell the health workers that the child has been in contact with someone with COVID-19
- This person should wear a mask. If the child is over 2 years of age, he/she should wear a mask.
- It is best if someone can stay with the child. But If no one can, the caregiver should get the contact number for the ward where the child is admitted.
You can also contact the free COVID-19 hotline for help and advice (0800 029 999 / 0800 111 132).
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