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Warning-sign checks

Infants coronavirus (COVID-19) in children: when to get help

Go through these in order and stop at the first one that applies. If you are reading this for someone else, answer for them.

  1. 1

    Is any of this happening now?

    Call 911

    Call emergency services if a child has:

    • Severe difficulty breathing, gasping or pauses in breathing
    • Blue, grey or very pale lips, skin or tongue
    • Severe chest pain
    • A seizure that lasts several minutes or repeated seizures
    • Extreme drowsiness, confusion or difficulty waking
    • Signs of shock, such as cold mottled skin with marked weakness
    • A collapse or loss of consciousness

    Severe breathing difficulty, confusion or collapse remains an emergency.

    Other emergency signs, for anyone
    • Someone who is struggling to breathe, gasping, choking, or cannot get words out
    • Someone who has chest pain, tightness or pressure lasting more than a few minutes
    • Someone who has sudden weakness or drooping on one side of the face or body, slurred speech, or sudden confusion
    • Someone who is unconscious, or cannot be woken
    • Someone who is bleeding heavily and it will not stop with firm pressure
    • Someone who has had a seizure that will not stop, or does not wake up afterwards
    • Someone who has lips or skin that look pale, blue, grey or blotchy
    • Someone who you believe has taken an overdose or swallowed something poisonous
  2. 2

    Is any of this happening?

    Be seen today

    Seek urgent same-day medical advice if a baby younger than 3 months has a temperature of 38°C or higher.

    Young babies can become unwell quickly, even when the cause is not COVID-19.

    Also seek prompt advice if a child is breathing faster or working harder to breathe, is drinking much less, has fewer wet nappies, repeatedly vomits, has a persistent fever, or is getting worse rather than better.

    Contact the child’s medical team early if they have a condition that increases their risk of severe illness.

    Seek urgent assessment.

  3. 3

    Does any of this apply?

    Book an appointment

    Routine medical follow-up is appropriate when symptoms continue beyond several weeks, interfere with school or activity, or repeatedly return.

The article also says

Persistent fever with stomach pain, vomiting, rash, red eyes, dizziness or unusual sleepiness in the weeks after COVID-19 could suggest MIS-C.

Every sign above is quoted from the sofidex article on Infants coronavirus (COVID-19) in children. If you are not sure, err upward — it is always reasonable to be checked.