In children, a COVID-19 infection usually causes mild symptoms or no symptoms at all. The most frequent symptoms are cough, fever and runny nose. Diarrhea and problems with the senses of smell and taste are also possible. Depending on the individual symptoms and their severity, it can be helpful to give medicines to lower the temperature and/or relieve the cough, blocked nose and diarrhea.

Serious illness is very rare in children but can happen, affecting mainly infants, small children and children with pre-existing conditions. The Robert Koch Institute (RKI) provides a list of relevant pre-existing conditions (the list is to be found below the question “What does the STIKO recommend for children and adolescents aged 6 months to 17 years inclusive?”)

With regard to treatment, you should remember that not all the medications available to treat COVID-19 in adults are also authorized for use in children. Depending on the severity and the individual symptoms in each case, it is necessary to check which medications can be used to treat children and young people.

Further information about the illness in children and young people, and a wealth of helpful tips for parents, can be found at the website infektionsschutz.de run by BZgA, the Federal Centre for Health Education.

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