COVID-19 in Children, Teens and Young Adults

Children and teens can get COVID-19.  While most have mild symptoms or none at all, these groups can spread the virus that causes COVID-19 to others, including older adults,  who may be more susceptible to its effects.  And children can get severely ill, and may require hospitalization, intensive care or even the use of a ventilator.  

Who’s most at risk of acquiring the infection?  The highest risk of infection is in communities with a sizable outbreak, when people spend long amounts of time in closed, unventilated spaces where other people close by are talking or otherwise emitting virus-laden vapor, and  where people aren’t wearing masks. 

Severe illness from COVID-19 is more likely if affected youth and young adults have:

  • Asthma

  • Diabetes

  • Genetic, neurologic conditions

  • Heart disease since birth

  • Immunosuppression (weakened immune system due to certain medical conditions or being on medications that weaken the immune system)

  • Medical complexity (the presence of multiple chronic conditions that affect many parts of the body and require technology and other significant supports for daily life)

  • Obesity

Infants and young children can develop a serious condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome that can affect the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs.

Young adults age 18-34, in whom the numbers of COVID-19 cases have been rising rapidly, are also at risk for complications from COVID-19, especially if they fall into one or more of the groups detailed above.  When young adults are hospitalized due to symptoms of the infection, 21% require ICU admission, 10% require mechanical ventilation (the use of a ventilator) and 2.7% die.

Young adults are also more likely than children or adults 65 and older to develop prolonged, post COVID-19 infection symptoms.  Termed “long-haulers,” these patients can suffer from a diabolical grab bag of symptoms, including chronic fatigue, shortness of breath, unrelenting fevers, gastrointestinal problems, lost sense of smell, hallucinations, short-term-memory loss, bulging veins, bruising, gynecological problems, and erratic heartbeat. 

Symptoms of Covid-19 are similar in all age groups and include:

  • Fever

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue (tiredness)

  • Sore throat

  • Runny or stuffy nose

  • Muscle pain or body aches

  • Headache

  • Vomiting and/or diarrhea.

  • Significant loss of taste and/or smell

If you think you might be infected with COVID-19 seek medical advice about testing and treatment.

COVID-19 affects all age groups, can be mild or deadly at any age, and can cause prolonged symptoms even after recovery from the acute illness.  Our best current protections are to wear masks when appropriate, avoid crowds, wash our hands frequently, avoid touching our faces and maintain social distancing in public.  The use of vaccines that will become available in the coming months will greatly help to further mitigate the spread of this disease.

For more information: 

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/children/symptoms.html