You should use an at-home COVID-19 test if: These tests provide results in about 10 minutes, which means you can take precautions sooner and help prevent others in your circle from getting sick, too. If your child tests positive for COVID-19, it’s important to then follow the CDC’s guidance on isolation measures.Īt-home COVID-19 tests are widely available at most pharmacies and are generally considered accurate for detecting the presence of the coronavirus. Children under the age of 2 can be tested in their pediatrician’s office. While many pediatricians offer COVID testing in their offices, at-home tests are now widely available, and most are recommended for children over 2 years old. For example, we now have treatments for COVID-19 that may be recommended for some patients, just like we have treatments that can help ease the symptoms or lower the risk of the flu. Knowing if your child has COVID will also help your pediatrician provide appropriate care. “Getting or taking a COVID test is one of the best things you can do to help control the spread of the virus.” “Knowing if you have the virus sooner means you can isolate and take other precautions sooner,” says Dr. Even if your child does not have a fever, it is possible that they could have COVID-19.īecause COVID-19 is highly contagious and it can take longer for people to develop symptoms, a COVID-19 test can alert you as soon as possible if you have the virus - even if you were infected but don’t have symptoms. *Less than half of children who are diagnosed with COVID-19 will have a fever. We’ve included additional information about each condition below, signs and symptoms to look for and why testing matters. It can be challenging to identify the cause of symptoms, especially in younger kids. Loss of appetite or, for babies, difficulty feeding The severity of and treatments for these illnesses vary, which is why asking an expert is always recommended. While terms like “the common cold,” “the flu,” “colds” and “cold viruses” are frequently used like they mean the same thing, there are many different viruses that cause respiratory symptoms in children. If your child is sick, talk with their pediatrician about testing and treatment. Note: This chart should only be used as a starting point. With the help of our experts, we created a symptoms chart for quickly comparing symptoms of COVID-19, the flu, RSV, common colds and allergies. Likewise, if you have a child 6 months or younger – or one with underlying heart or lung conditions – remain cautious about close contact with others who have cold or flu symptoms.Įven with precautions, it’s likely that your family will catch a virus during cold and flu season, so it’s important to be prepared and understand the subtle differences between these common illnesses.
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