Children with Covid-19 display wider range of symptoms than adults

Symptoms of children infected with the coronavirus include headache, diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, study finds

Half of the children with antibodies suggesting they contracted Covid-19 were asymptomatic. Getty

Children who contract Covid-19 exhibit a wider set of symptoms than adults including headache, diarrhoea, vomiting and abdominal cramps, a new study has found.

Lead researcher Dr Tom Waterfield, of Queens University Belfast, said the gastrointestinal problems should therefore potentially be added to the official list of known symptoms.

The UK’s National Health Service currently says people should self-isolate immediately if they have a fever, a new and continuous cough or a loss of sense of smell or taste.

Around 1,000 children aged two to 15 were tested from April 16 to July 3 and 68 came back with a positive antibody test indicating they had previously had Covid-19. Of the 68, half were asymptomatic.

The most common symptoms were fever, gastrointestinal upset and headache. None required admission to hospital and all were children of healthcare workers.