COVID-19 and children in Australia

What are the symptoms of COVID-19?

Symptoms of COVID-19 include:

symptoms like those of a cold or flu, including runny nose, sneezing, sore throat, cough, headache, and muscle or joint aches and pains
fever
difficulty breathing
fatigue
irritability
nausea or loss of appetite
diarrhoea or vomiting
temporary loss or altered sense of smell or taste.

Symptoms might come on very quickly and last 2-7 days.

Most children who get COVID-19 have only mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. Children with some underlying medical conditions might be at slightly higher risk of getting quite sick. But very few children with COVID-19 get sick enough to need hospitalisation. And it’s very rare for children to die.

When to get a COVID-19 test for your child

If your child has the symptoms above or has been in close contact with someone who has COVID-19, your child should get a COVID-19 test. There are 2 types of COVID-19 tests – PCR tests and RATs.

Check your state or territory health department website for more information about which type of test your child should get and where to get it.

If your child is using a RAT, it’s important to check the RAT’s expiry date.

Australian, state and territory health department websites have the latest and most reliable information and advice about COVID-19. You can also call Healthdirect (nurse-on-call) on 1800 022 222.

What is the best COVID-19 treatment for kids?

There’s currently no specific treatment for COVID-19 that can make it go away more quickly.

If your child has COVID-19 symptoms that are making them feel uncomfortable, you can manage these symptoms at home. Here are things you can do:

Give your child paracetamol or ibuprofen according to the instructions on the packet. This can help if your child is in pain or has a fever.
Encourage your child to drink plenty of fluids so that they don’t get dehydrated. Warm drinks can ease a sore throat and dry mouth.
Don’t force your child to eat. Your child might not be hungry, but their appetite will improve as they start to feel better.
Encourage your child to take things easy, but there’s no need for them to stay in bed. Let your child decide how active they want to be.
If you have a young baby with a stuffy nose, you can try using saline nasal spray.

You should avoid the following:

Cough medicines – your child is coughing because their windpipe is irritated or has a lot of mucus. Cough medicines won’t help with either of these issues.
Decongestants like Benadryl, Bisolvon, Demazin, Dimetapp, Duro-tuss, Logicin, Robitussin and Sudafed – these don’t help with COVID-19. They also have side effects like rapid heart rate, jitteriness and insomnia.
Aspirin – aspirin can make your child susceptible to Reye’s syndrome, a rare but potentially fatal illness.

Note also that antibiotics don’t treat COVID-19.

It’s recommended that your child stays home until they’ve been free from fever for 24 hours and feel well again. Your state or territory health department website will tell you what else you need to do to protect others from infection.

What to do if COVID-19 symptoms get worse

If your child’s symptoms get worse, see your GP. For example, see your GP if your child:

won’t drink fluids or can’t keep fluids down
vomits frequently
is unusually tired, confused or sleepy
has trouble breathing
has severe or constant headaches or chest pain.

Make sure to tell the GP clinic about your child’s COVID-19 symptoms, test or diagnosis. The clinic will tell you what to do next.

You can also contact Healthdirect on 1800 022 222.

If your child has a lot of difficulty breathing, their skin is pale or blue, or they’re drowsy or unresponsive, call 000 for an ambulance. Let them know about your child’s COVID-19 test or diagnosis, and then follow their directions. Also seek medical attention straight away if your child has a fever for more than 3 days and/or swollen neck glands, swollen hands or feet, red eyes or tongue, stomach pain, a skin rash or cracked lips.

Do kids get long COVID?

Long COVID isn’t common in children.

Most children fully recover from COVID-19, although it might take them several weeks to get over symptoms like cough or fatigue.

Your child might have long COVID if:

they have any of the symptoms below
the symptoms last for more than 3 months
the symptoms make it harder for them to do their usual activities.

Long COVID symptoms

Fatigue
Difficulty breathing
Pain
Problems with memory or concentration

If this sounds like your child, take them to see your GP.

Can kids get vaccinated against COVID-19?

COVID-19 vaccination is available to children aged 6 months or older who have very weak immune systems or a medical condition that increases their risk of severe COVID disease.

It’s best to speak with your GP or vaccination provider if you have any concerns about COVID-19 vaccination or your child has a medical condition, disability or a very weak immune system. These health professionals can address your concerns and talk with you about your child’s vaccination needs.

If your child is anxious about injections or has needle phobia, it can help to prepare your child for vaccination.

Vaccines are medicines that build your body’s immune system. They help to protect you and your family from infectious diseases.

How to protect your family from COVID-19 and prevent its spread

COVID-19 spreads easily through sneezing, coughing, breathing, talking and hand contact. It can also live on objects that have been in contact with an infected person’s mouth, nose, hands or body fluids.

Good personal hygiene can help to protect your child and family from COVID-19 and prevent its spread.

Good personal hygiene starts with hand-washing. This is one of the simplest and best ways of preventing the spread of illness, including the spread of COVID-19.

It’s also important for you and your child to blow your noses, sneeze and cough hygienically.

How to blow your nose hygienically

Use disposable tissues.
Put used tissues in a bin straight away.
Carry a disposable bag for used tissues in case there are no bins.
Wash your hands with soap or use hand sanitiser.

How to sneeze or cough hygienically

Avoid sneezing or coughing into hands.
Use disposable tissues or cover your mouth with a sleeve or elbow.
Wash your hands with soap or use hand sanitiser.

You can also encourage your child to keep their hands away from their eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible.

How to reduce your risk of getting COVID-19

Avoid close contact with anyone with the virus.
Have gatherings outdoors where possible.
Keep doors and windows open, or use fans to improve airflow if you have visitors in your home.

It’s important to be a hand-washing and personal hygiene role model. Your child is more likely to have good hygiene if you lead by example.