PALM HARBOR, Fla. — As cases of COVID-19 continue to rise here in Florida, doctors are finding some key differences in how children and adults react to the virus. Now, medical professionals are breaking down what parents need to look for if they think their child may have been exposed.
Pediatricians in the Tampa Bay area are finding some key differences in how both kids and adults react to COVID-19.
Dr. Lara Cavanaugh with Children's Medical Center in Palm Harbor says with children who test positive the symptoms aren't lasting quite as long as a common cold.
"Sometimes, it seems like they get fevers for a few days, some get a cough, some get a little bit diarrhea, headache, and then they seem to get better fairly quickly," Cavanaugh said.
In comparison with the common cold, Cavanaugh says children are often sick for seven to 10 days and they'll often register fevers for up to five days, along with a cough or a runny nose.
But with COVID-19, she says the symptoms have been somewhat mild in kids if they are relatively healthy, which makes it especially difficult to know it's COVID-19 without a screening.
"It is hard for parents to sort out what's a cold and what's COVID-19," Cavanaugh said. "And even for us, sometimes we just have to test the kids to see if it's COVID or not."
Doctors also say they've seen a lot of ear infections in kids right now, as well as cases of strep throat.
So, if you have a question, call your child's doctor and ask if they should get a COVID-19 test.