All usually begin as upper respiratory infections, making it difficult for parents to know which virus they are dealing with early on.
At-home Covid tests can help parents determine whether Covid is the cause of their child's illness, although negative test results on rapid tests don't always mean a person is in the clear.
Moffitt said that if parents are unsure whether their children need more help recovering from infections, they should call their pediatricians. That is especially important, she said, for"infants and maybe even the toddlers who can’t tell parents what is wrong with them." Breathing problems can also manifest as the lips turning blue or the muscles between the ribs pulling inward on each breath, said Ameenuddin, of the Mayo Clinic.