COVID-19 – Considerations for the paediatric rheumatologist

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 is a threat to the health and well-being of millions of lifes across the globe. A significant proportion of adult patients require hospitalisation and may develop severe life-threatening complications. Children, on the other hand, can carry and transmit the virus, but...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Clinical immunology (Orlando, Fla.) Fla.), 2020-05, Vol.214, p.108420-108420, Article 108420
Main Author: Hedrich, Christian M.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Age Factors
ARDS
Betacoronavirus
Child
Coinfection - virology
Comorbidity
Coronavirus Infections - epidemiology
Coronavirus Infections - pathology
COVID
COVID-19
Cytokine storm
Cytokines - immunology
Humans
Immune Evasion
Immunosuppressive Agents - administration & dosage
Inflammation
Paediatric
Pandemics
Pediatrics
Pneumonia, Viral - epidemiology
Pneumonia, Viral - pathology
Rheumatology
SARS
SARS-CoV-2
SARS-CoV2
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Summary:The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 is a threat to the health and well-being of millions of lifes across the globe. A significant proportion of adult patients require hospitalisation and may develop severe life-threatening complications. Children, on the other hand, can carry and transmit the virus, but usually do not develop severe disease. Mortality in the paediatric age-group is relatively low. Differences in virus containment and clearance, as well as reduced inflammation-related tissue and organ damage may be caused by age-specific environmental and host factors. Since severe complications in adults are frequently caused by uncontrolled immune responses and a resulting “cytokine storm” that may be controlled by targeted blockade of cytokines, previously established treatment with immunosuppressive treatments may indeed protect children from complications. •The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 causes COVID-19, a pandemic threatening millions of lifes globally.•Children with COVID-19 rarely develop severe symptoms and mortality is relatively low.•Co-infections (and co-clearance) with other viruses may help children to overcome SARS-CoV2.•Fewer comorbidities and age-specific host factors may protect children.•Limited experience suggests that pre-existing anti-inflammatory treatment may not increase risk significantly.
ISSN:1521-6616
1521-7035
1521-7035
DOI:10.1016/j.clim.2020.108420