What are the risks of COVID-19 infection in youth?

Question: 

What are the risks of COVID-19 infection in youth?

Answer: 
While most youth who get COVID-19 have a minor illness, some can get very sick. Children and youth with certain underlying medical conditions have a higher chance of more serious symptoms if they get COVID-19. Infected children and youth are also able to pass on COVID-19 to other people in their families and communities.
 
Youth who get COVID-19: 
 
  • Can get severe lung infection and heart issues like myocarditis from COVID-19.
  • 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.
  • Are at risk of developing a serious but rare condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C) after COVID-19 infection. MIS-C is caused by an exaggerated immune response, leading to severe widespread inflammation and can appear several weeks after infection. 
Date last reviewed: 
Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022