Welcome to
Together is a new resource for anyone affected by pediatric cancer - patients and their parents, family members, and friends.
Learn MoreCancer and cancer treatments can weaken the immune system. This means that a child with cancer is often at higher risk for infection and illness. This risk is particularly high for patients who have had a bone marrow transplant.
Patients and family members should take extra care to prevent exposure to the virus. If symptoms of COVID-19 develop, contact your doctor right away.
Read more about COVID-19 in patients who have had a bone marrow transplant.
COVID-19 stands for coronavirus disease 2019. It is a respiratory infection that is passed from person to person. A respiratory infection is an illness that affects the nose, throat, airways, or lungs. Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, similar to a cold or the flu, but some people can develop more serious problems like pneumonia.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that are common throughout the world. The virus that causes COVID-19 is a new type of coronavirus. The official name of the virus is SARS-CoV-2.
When person who has the virus coughs or sneezes, respiratory droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. Droplets from a sneeze can travel up to 6 feet.
COVID-19 can spread from close contact with an infected person. When an infected person coughs or sneezes, respiratory droplets can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby or may possibly be inhaled into the lungs.
The virus may also be spread when a person touches a surface with the virus and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth. The virus may live on surfaces for a few days.
Anyone can get COVID-19. The illness is spread person-to-person. In other words, anyone can develop COVID-19 after coming in close contact with someone infected with the virus. The virus may also be spread when a person touches a surface with the virus and then touches their eyes, nose, or mouth.
Primary symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, runny nose, shortness of breath, and sore throat.
COVID-19 is a respiratory illness (like a cold or the flu) caused by a virus. Symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, chills, shortness of breath, body aches, runny nose, and loss of the sense of smell or taste. Symptoms usually develop 2-12 days after exposure to the virus.
Most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms. Some people may have the virus and not show any symptoms at all.
In some cases, people with COVID-19 become very ill. COVID-19 can cause pneumonia, severe breathing problems, and even death. Warning signs of severe illness are:
Overall, children seem to be at lower risk for serious illness due to COVID-19. This does not mean that children don’t get COVID-19. But the risk of severe illness in children is generally lower.
In most cases, the highest risk for complications with COVID-19 is seen in older adults and patients with chronic health problems such as heart disease, diabetes, lung problems, or people with weak immune systems.
Families with children who have weakened immune systems due to an illness or medical condition should take extra care to prevent exposure to the virus. If symptoms develop, contact your doctor right away.
In very rare cases, children may develop a serious inflammatory syndrome associated with COVID-19. This condition is known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). MIS-C is similar to Kawasaki disease. This syndrome occurs in some children who had a previous coronavirus infection. Children may develop the syndrome even if they did not have noticeable symptoms of COVID-19.
Signs and symptoms of pediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome include:
Inflammation is a part of the normal immune response. In this syndrome, it appears that there is an overactivation of the immune system. It is not known exactly why this occurs. However, children’s immune systems are naturally on alert and ready to fight new infections. If the immune response continues too long, it can cause inflammation and affect the blood vessels in many organs including the heart and kidneys.
Although the syndrome is very rare, MIS-C can damage the heart, kidneys, and other organs. The condition can be life-threatening, and prompt medical care is needed. Call your pediatrician immediately if you suspect MIS-C or observe any of its features, which develop weeks after the infection.
Cancer and cancer treatments can weaken the immune system. This means that a child with cancer is often at higher risk for infection and illness. Most pediatric cancer patients do relatively well if they get COVID-19. However, for some patients, COVID-19 can be life-threatening.
In general, cancer can lower immunity and make it harder to fight infection in different ways:
Most patients with COVID-19 have mild illness. But it’s possible that more severe illness could occur, so close observation is needed.
A recent study found that bone marrow transplant patients are at a particularly high risk for severe illness due to COVID-19.
Researchers studied 318 bone marrow transplant patients who developed COVID-19. COVID-19 survival was about 68% among bone marrow transplant patients. Survival is 95–99% in the general population. The risk continued even a year or more after transplant.
Bone marrow transplant patients are encouraged to take extra care to prevent infection and to seek medical care at any sign of illness.
If your child has a weak immune system or chronic health condition, it is important to take steps to prevent illness. Contact your doctor if your child has been exposed to the virus or has symptoms of COVID-19.
Wear a mask or face covering as your doctor recommends. If your child is immunocompromised, ask your care team about the type of mask needed and instructions for use.
Other ways to protect yourself and others from illness include:
Download and print this coloring book for children. They can read about the coronavirus and COVID-19 and color the pages.
Download and print this coloring book for older children. They can read about the coronavirus and COVID-19, color some pages, and work word puzzles.
—
Reviewed: January 2021
