COVID-19 (Coronavirus) & Kids
How Is Coronavirus Disease Different in Kids?
The vast majority of people who have been infected with COVID-19 have been over the age of 18. Coronavirus can affect babies and children of all ages.
What increases the risk of COVID-19 in Children?
Children with lung disease, heart disease or a weakened immune system are at increased risk for complications with a COVID-19 infection. They need care that’s designed just for their special needs.
As the nation’s leading respiratory hospital, National Jewish Health has created unique testing and specialty care clinics to help keep children healthy during the COVID-19 outbreak. We developed our own test to diagnose children with the SARS-CoV2 virus and special clinics to treat children with the COVID-19 disease.
National Jewish Health offers a swab (molecular) test to detect the presence of the SARS-CoV2 virus and two antibody tests that check for an immune response to viral infection. The COVID-19 Swab (molecular/PCR) Test is available for ages two and up and the Spike Protein IgG Antibody (Serology) test is available for ages 10 and up through our drive-through testing area.
For children under these age limits, please to talk with your physician or see a physician through National Jewish Health Department of Pediatrics to receive a test in clinic. Our scheduling department will call patients to set up an appointment once a provider referral is received.
All patients under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by a parent/guardian. Learn more about testing for coronavirus.
Pediatric Coronavirus Care
Pediatric Acute Respiratory Clinic (PARC) provides same day or next day appointments for children with suspected COVID-19 who have moderate respiratory symptoms. Symptoms of moderate disease in children include fever, shortness of breath and/or cough. Treating these symptoms of COVID-19 in children is not easily done at home, but does not usually require emergency medical care.
Pediatric Recovery Clinic helps children who are recovering from COVID-19 and who are experiencing physical and emotional aftereffects of the disease. Our program brings experts from different specialties to offer kid-friendly care of immediate needs after recovery and ongoing medical complications of a COVID-19 infection.
COVID-19 Assessment Program (CAP) can address the longer-lasting physical and emotional symptoms of the coronavirus outbreak in kids. These symptoms can include persistent shortness of breath, fatigue, anxiety, depression and deconditioning. The CAP program offers evaluation and treatment from a multispecialty team with the goal to help each child return to normal functions at home and school and in social interactions and recreational activities.