Children, including very young children, can develop COVID-19. Many of them have no symptoms. Those that do get sick tend to experience milder symptoms such as low-grade fever, fatigue, and cough. Some children have had severe complications, but this has been less common. Children with underlying health conditions may be at increased risk for severe illness.
A potentially severe and dangerous complication can occur in children. Called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), it can lead to life-threatening problems with the heart and other organs in the body. In this condition, different body parts, such as the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes, or gastrointestinal organs, can become inflamed.
Symptoms of MIS-C can include
fever lasting more than a couple of days
rash
"bloodshot eyes"(redness of the white part of the eye)
stomachache
vomiting and/or diarrhea
a large, swollen lymph node in the neck
neck pain
red, cracked lips
a tongue that is redder than usual and looks like a strawberry
swollen hands and/or feet
irritability and/or unusual sleepiness or weakness.