You just found out your child was exposed to COVID-19 at school, at daycare, on the bus or during another group activity. Receiving this kind of news can be worrying. But what’s next?

First of all, keep in mind that being around someone who has COVID-19 doesn’t necessarily mean your child will get sick. Plus, if they do get COVID-19, it’s unlikely they’ll get a serious case – and, it’s even less likely if your child’s been vaccinated.

Even so, after you find out your child’s been exposed to COVID-19, it’s important to know what to do, how to prevent COVID-19 from spreading and what steps to take if your child gets sick.

What to do if you find out your child was exposed to COVID-19

Based on the current respiratory virus guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it's not necessary for your child to stay home if they’ve been exposed to COVID-19.

However, it’s possible for a child with COVID-19 to be contagious even if they don’t have symptoms – and it can take up to two weeks after exposure before symptoms become noticeable. So, it’s a good idea to take extra precautions for a couple of weeks to keep germs from spreading.

1. Use masking and social distancing

While it’s okay for kids without symptoms to continue usual activities, it’s a good idea for them to wear a mask or practice social distancing for about 10 days when around others in indoor places. But keep in mind that kiddos under 2 years old should never wear masks.

2. Watch out for common symptoms of COVID-19 in children

Symptoms of COVID-19 in children are often similar to symptoms caused by other respiratory illnesses, including a cold and the flu. Symptoms typically occur 2-14 days after exposure and may include:

• Fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher
• New cough or a cough that gets worse
• New loss of taste or smell
• Shortness of breath
• Sore throat
• Congestion or runny nose
• Nausea, vomiting or diarrhea
• Muscle or body aches
• Fatigue (constant tiredness)
• Very bad headache
• Chills

How is COVID-19 different in children than adults?

COVID-19 symptoms in children are similar to the symptoms in adults. The most significant difference is that diarrhea, vomiting and nausea are more common in children.

3. Consider COVID-19 testing

COVID-19 testing usually isn’t necessary after being exposed to the coronavirus – but you’ll want to check with your child’s daycare or school to make sure. In any case, testing can be a good idea if your child or someone in your family is more likely to get a severe case of COVID-19 – for example, if they’re immunocompromised. It’s important to know that the accuracy of testing results depends on the type of COVID-19 test and when it’s done.

• Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests – For those who haven’t had COVID-19 recently, these tests are the most accurate, and it should only take one test to determine if your child is positive or negative. To get your child a PCR test, make an appointment for COVID-19 testing when it’s been 3-5 days since they were exposed, or they start to develop symptoms.
• Antigen tests – You can also use at-home antigen tests if your child meets the age requirements. However, they’re less likely to detect the coronavirus than PCR tests, so repeat tests are needed if the test comes back negative. Testing can be repeated every 48 hours. If your child has no symptoms, they’ll need three negative tests in a row to be considered negative for COVID-19. If they have symptoms, they need two negative tests in a row.

What to do if your child develops any respiratory symptoms

Here are things you can do to help your child recover and stop the spread of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

1. Keep your child at home and away from others

If your child has respiratory symptoms, they should stay home and away from others as much as possible. They shouldn’t attend childcare, school or other activities. This is true if the symptoms are caused by COVID-19, the flu or a cold.

When can my child return to their usual activities after COVID-19 or another respiratory illness?

According to the respiratory virus guidance from the CDC, your child should be able to return to school, daycare or other group activities when both of the following are true:

• They’ve been without a fever for 24 hours without the help of fever-reducing medications.
• Their other COVID-19 symptoms are improving or are gone. The one exception is the loss of smell or taste since that can take longer to come back.

After your child returns to usual activities, take additional precautions for five more days. The CDC recommends masking, testing and social distancing as ways to keep the coronavirus from spreading. If your child’s fever returns or their symptoms get worse, have them stay home again until they’re getting better and are fever-free for another 24 hours.

2. Let others know your child is sick

If your child develops respiratory symptoms, let others know (especially if your child tests positive for COVID-19). Here’s who to contact:

• The school health office or your child’s daycare
• Leaders of clubs or activities outside of school
• Friends and family that you’ve seen within the past couple of weeks

3. Create a plan to keep others in your home safe

When someone is sick with COVID-19 or another respiratory illness, here’s what you and your family can do to prevent others from getting sick:

• Wear masks when you’re with your sick child (for safety reasons, your child shouldn’t wear a mask when they’re alone or if they’re under the age of 2)
• If possible, have your sick child sleep in a room by themselves and use a separate bathroom from the rest of the family
• Make sure that there’s good airflow in shared spaces
• Wash hands frequently, for at least 20 seconds each time
• Don’t have any visitors

Who should be in close contact with your child?

In general, it’s best to leave the caregiving to a single person to limit the risks to the family. If possible, choose someone who’s received the latest COVID-19 vaccine and other recommended vaccinations.

4. Provide care to your child while they are sick

Here’s how to care for a child with COVID-19 or another respiratory illness:

• Dress your child comfortably. Make sure your child is dressed in comfortable clothing and that they’re not too cold or too hot.
• Encourage your child to drink fluids. It’s very important your child gets enough fluids, especially when they’re running a fever. If your child is urinating infrequently or seems excessively sleepy or irritable, they may be dehydrated, and you should contact your child’s doctor.
• Let them rest. Sleep supports the immune system and can help your child’s body fight off the coronavirus and recover sooner. Chances are your child won’t need much convincing to take a snooze. But if they’re resisting a nap, turn on some calming music or suggest they do something relaxing, like reading.
• Be positive and supportive. Children are great at picking up on people’s emotions. Being alone can be hard for everyone, especially children. Being left out and avoided can make them sad. Remind your child there’s a lot of people who love them and that the reason why people are wearing masks and staying away is to keep everyone safe – so you can get back to doing fun things together, sooner.
• Treat bothersome symptoms if necessary. If your child’s symptoms are causing discomfort, the following at-home treatments for COVID-19 may help.

At-home treatments for children with COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses

What should I do if I have questions about caring for my child?

If you have any questions about caring for your child, you can:

• Schedule a video visit to talk with a doctor
• Call your clinic
• Start a visit with Virtuwell, our online clinic

5. Be on the lookout for COVID-19 severe complications in children

Severe COVID-19 and complications are rare in children. But when they happen, they can be life threatening. If your child has a weakened immune system or serious medical conditions, talk to your doctor about COVID-19 treatments that can prevent mild or moderate cases from becoming severe.

Of particular concern is multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C), a complication of COVID-19 that causes inflammation throughout a child’s body. While serious, quickly getting medical attention for MIS-C can help ensure your child makes a full recovery. Here’s what to watch for and what you should do.

Call 911 or go to an emergency room if your child has these symptoms

• Can’t breathe well enough to talk or walk
• Skin that looks blue or gray
• A bad stomachache
• Inability to wake up or stay awake
• Shortness of breath or breathing problems
• Confusion or dizziness
• Pain or pressure in the chest

6. After they recover, watch your child for any long-term effects of COVID-19

After recovering from COVID-19, children can experience long-haul COVID-19 symptoms that last for weeks or months. These symptoms include the loss of taste and smell, muscle weakness, stomach pain, fatigue and headaches. Your child can get long COVID even if they had a mild case or no COVID-19 symptoms at all.

If your child recovers from their initial infection but they develop new health problems that don’t seem to go away, make a primary care appointment to see if they need treatment for post-COVID syndrome.

We’re your partner in COVID-19 care for children

Finding out your child has been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19 can be overwhelming. Fortunately, most children who get COVID-19 have mild cases and recover quickly. Your doctor or clinician can also help you care for your child.