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CNN medical analyst Dr Leana Wen says common colds share many symptoms of the coronavirus, so if your child becomes ill at the start of the school year, it can be difficult to tell immediately if they are. is COVID-19. (Drazen Zigic, iStockphoto / Getty Images)
ATLANTA – Common colds share many symptoms of the coronavirus, so if your child becomes ill at the start of the school year, it can be difficult to immediately tell if it is COVID-19, said Dr. Leana Wen , CNN medical analyst.
Adults catch the common cold about two to three times a year, and children get it even more frequently, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Most people recover from the cold in seven to ten days, but it may take longer if they have a weakened immune system, the CDC noted.
Some common symptoms of COVID-19 and the common cold include a sore throat, fatigue and a headache, according to Wen.
Cough is another common symptom of both viruses, although according to the Mayo Clinic, COVID-19 cough tends to be drier.
When children contract COVID-19, they tend to have milder symptoms than adults, Wen added.
“I would encourage parents to have a high index of suspicion and not to send their child to school if they are not feeling and showing symptoms that could be due to COVID-19,” she said declared.
Symptoms specific to COVID-19 include loss of smell or taste, Wen said.
In some severe cases of the common cold, a person may lose their sense of smell or taste due to nasal congestion, she explained. However, with COVID-19, you often lose your smell or taste early and before nasal congestion, Wen added.
People who have contracted COVID-19 can also experience diarrhea and nausea or vomiting, symptoms that are never present if it is just the common cold, according to the Mayo Clinic.
COVID-19 and the common cold are also caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is contracted from SARS-CoV-2, while the common cold can result from rhinoviruses, the Mayo Clinic noted.
Have your child tested
If you think your child has COVID-19, the most important thing is not to send them to school, Wen warned.
“I’m sure no parent would want other children in the class to be infected or their classmates’ family members, or the class to have to shut down because their child is symptomatic and may have it. passed on to others, ”Wen said. .
The next step Wen recommended is getting your child tested for COVID-19.
Testing is much more readily available than it was a year ago, she said, and parents should contact their pediatrician for options.
Wen said she expects COVID-19 testing options to be localized, which means the best places to get tested change depending on where you live. In some cases, local clinics may be available or children may go to testing sites run by their county health department.
Avoid doctors for mild symptoms
For children with mild symptoms of COVID-19, Wen recommended that parents think twice before going to the doctor.
“If you have mild symptoms, if it is COVID or any other viral illness, you should not go to a doctor unless you have spoken to your pediatrician and they ask you to come.” , Wen said.
If you’re symptomatic, Wen said, you can pass it on to someone else on entering.
Get your child vaccinated
Children 12 and older are eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, and Wen recommended that parents take their children to be immunized immediately.
It takes two doses plus two weeks before the two-dose vaccines provide maximum protection.
For parents, getting children vaccinated is “the best way to prevent their teenager from contracting COVID-19 early on and potentially missing school and other social activities with their friends,” Wen said.
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