COVID-19 and children with Down syndrome: is there any real reason to worry? Two case reports with severe course

Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by a series of immune dysregulations, of which interferon hyperreactivity is important, as it is responsible for surging antiviral responses and the possible initiation of an amplified cytokine storm. This biological condition is attributed to immune regulators en...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:BMC pediatrics 2020-12, Vol.20 (1), p.561-561, Article 561
Main Authors: Kantar, Ahmad, Mazza, Angelo, Bonanomi, Ezio, Odoni, Marta, Seminara, Manuela, Verde, Ilaria Dalla, Lovati, Camillo, Bolognini, Stefania, D'Antiga, Lorenzo
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Antiviral drugs
Case Report
Case reports
Case studies
Child, Preschool
Children
Coronavirus disease
Coronaviruses
COVID-19
COVID-19 - complications
Down syndrome
Down Syndrome - complications
Down Syndrome - immunology
Down Syndrome - therapy
Female
Heart Septal Defects - complications
Humans
Middle East respiratory syndrome
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children
Pediatric Obesity - complications
Pediatric research
Pediatrics
Risk Factors
SARS-CoV-2
Severity of Illness Index
Sleep apnea
Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - complications
Trisomy 21
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Summary:Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by a series of immune dysregulations, of which interferon hyperreactivity is important, as it is responsible for surging antiviral responses and the possible initiation of an amplified cytokine storm. This biological condition is attributed to immune regulators encoded in chromosome 21. Moreover, DS is also characterized by the coexistence of obesity and cardiovascular and respiratory anomalies, which are risk factors for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A total of 55 children were admitted to the pediatric ward in Bergamo, between February and May 2020 for COVID-19. Here, we describe the cases of two children with DS and a confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis who had a severe course. In addition, both cases involved one or more comorbidities, including cardiovascular anomalies, obesity, and/or obstructive sleep apnea. Our observations indicate that children with DS are at risk for severe COVID-19 disease course.
ISSN:1471-2431
1471-2431
DOI:10.1186/s12887-020-02471-5