How the virus affects children COVID-19 is caused by the coronavirus when it enters the body through the nose, mouth or eyes and attaches to our cells. From there, the virus replicates and spreads to other parts of the body and is transmitted to other people via saliva, sweat and airborne respiratory fluids. Although young children account for only a small percentage of COVID-19 infections, they can still become infected with the virus. Many of themhave no symptoms, while those who do get sick experience milder symptoms such as low-grade fever, fatigue and cough. Why young children seem to fare better against COVID-19 than do adults is something that science is still trying to understand. One explanationmay be that there are differences between the immune systems of children and adults. The fighting force of our immune system Our immune system is designed to protect our body − both inside and out − from infectious bacteria and viruses. It does this through a complex system of specialized warrior cells that patrol the body, destroying invading pathogens. Like well-trained soldiers, these warrior cells attack the pathogens and leave the body’s own cells alone. But, as in any type of warfare, things can go wrong. In some instances, the immune system goes into overdrive when fighting off a COVID-19 infection, attacking healthy cells in the process and leading to severe cases of the disease. How a child’s immune system differs from that of an adult Some of the most important immune cells are memory T cells, which learn to recognize pathogens that they encounter over a lifetime. One theory suggests that one reason children can neutralize the virus is that their T cells are relatively naïve, compared to an adult’s. This means that they do not have any specificity or preference for the pathogen causing the infection. Because children’s T cells are mostly untrained, they may have a greater capacity to respond to new viruses and mount a quick and effective response. Science is studying this phenomenon in more detail. Meanwhile, there is evidence that children’s noses have lower levels of the ACE2 receptor that allows the virus to gain access to cells. Because their noses contain fewer receptors, they may receive a smaller dose than adults, should they contract the virus. Researchers also think that this may explain why COVID19 is less common in children than adults. Children can still have a severe reaction to the virus Children who are immunocompromised − with conditions such as lupus or juvenile rheumatoid arthritis − have overactive immune systems, which puts them at increased risk for more severe cases of COVID-19. As well, a small percentage of infected children will develop a serious inflammatory condition called MIS-C following the infection. This can result in inflammation of various organs such as the heart, lungs and brain. While there have been some deaths, most children will recover under a doctor’s care. Can kids spread COVID-19? Experts are still debating this. Studies during the early days of the pandemic suggested that children did not substantially contribute to the spread of the virus, but that idea is now being questioned. Recent studies show that infected children had as much, or more, coronavirus in their upper respiratory tracts as did infected adults. While this did not definitively prove that children are infectious, the presence of high viral loads in infected children did suggest that children, even without symptoms, could readily transmit the infection to others. Where we’re at with vaccines and children What scientists do know is that we need a safe and effective vaccine for children…ASAP. And researchers are working on it. Most of the vaccines developed for COVID-19 focus on KIDS AND COVID-19 What we know − and don’t know − about immunity, transmission and getting back to (semi) normal by Diane Bracuk For many of us, seeing children with their small faces almost eclipsed by a Spider-Man or tie-dyed mask has become a familiar, if not poignant sight during the pandemic. And it raises so many questions. When will children be safe? What about play dates? Can children hug their grandparents? Can young kids spread COVID-19? Do they really need a vaccine? The short answer is that we’re a year-and-a-half into the pandemic, and there is still much that we don’t know. The situation isn’t helped by the more worrisome variants rolling in, with scientists still not clear on transmission rates or the long-term effects of COVID-19. However, there is a growing field of evidence which suggests that kids may be immune to some of the most virulent effects of the virus. COVID-19 38 | www.snowbirds.org
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