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What are the risks of COVID-19 infection in children aged 5 to 11? Isn’t it usually a mild disease in children?
Question:
What are the risks of COVID-19 infection in children aged 5 to 11? Isn’t it usually a mild disease in children?
Answer:
While most children who get COVID-19 have a mild illness, some children can get very sick. The chance of getting very sick is higher for children who are not fully vaccinated or have certain medical conditions.
Children who get COVID-19:
- Can get a severe lung infection and heart issues like myocarditis (inflammation of the heart muscle).
- Are at risk of developing a serious but rare condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C is caused by an exaggerated immune response, leading to severe widespread inflammation. It can happen several weeks after infection and usually requires hospitalization. Most children in Canada who have had this condition have fully recovered with treatment.
- May continue to feel sick weeks or months after the initial illness. This is called Post-COVID-19 condition or “long COVID”. Early studies suggest that "long COVID" is less common in children and young people than adults.
Vaccinating children can also help protect others, including family members and those most at risk. Vaccination can also make it less likely that children will miss out on important activities, like school, sports, and social events.
In this video, BC Children’s Hospital Infectious Disease Pediatric Physician Dr. Manish Sadarangani discusses severe COVID-19 infection in children.
Children get less sick from COVID-19 than adults – but, rarely, they can get quite sick. Kids who were otherwise previously healthy have also had severe COVID-19. Listen to why our BC Children’s Hospital infectious disease specialist recommends children be vaccinated. pic.twitter.com/22k0hpPRia
— BC Children's Hospital (@BCChildrensHosp) February 23, 2022
Date last reviewed:
Thursday, Dec 15, 2022