Children Naturally Evading COVID-19—Why Children Differ from Adults

Camilla Adler Sørensen, Amanda Clemmensen, Cillia Sparrewath, Malte Mose Tetens, Karen Angeliki Krogfelt

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewpeer-review

Abstract

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread across the world, caused lockdowns, and has had serious economic and social consequences. COVID-19 manifests differently in children than adults, as children usually have a milder course of disease, mild symptoms if any, and lower fatality rates are recorded among children. SARS-CoV-2 transmission also seems to be different between children and adults. Many factors are proposed to explain the milder outcome in children, e.g., a more appropriate immune response (especially active innate response), trained immunity, a lack of immunosenescence, and the reduced prevalence of comorbidities. A better understanding of the differences in susceptibility and outcome in children compared with adults could lead to greater knowledge of risk factors for complicated COVID-19 cases and potential treatment targets. We highlight proposed reasons as to why children are less affected by COVID-19 than adults.
Original languageEnglish
JournalCOVID
Volume2
Issue number3
Pages (from-to)369-378
Number of pages10
ISSN2673-8112
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Mar 2022

Keywords

  • viral infection
  • transmission
  • immune system
  • ACE2
  • young people
  • adolescents
  • children
  • coronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • SARS-CoV-2

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