COVID‑19 in children

Abstract

Coronavirus disease‑2019 (COVID‑19) has affected nearly 2 million people and caused upto 100,000 people death worldwide until today. This severe disease has seen less in childrenthan adults. This may be due to the fact that cytokine storm in children is milder, viral loadexposure is less than in adults, and angiotensin converting enzyme receptor levels are differentfrom adults. It should be kept in mind that COVID-19 may cause severe illness in infants under1 year old and in children with chronic diseases such as chronic kidney disease undergoingdialysis, sickle cell disease, chronic liver disease, endocrine disorders, chronic lung disease,cardiovascular disease, immune deficiency, and severe obesity. Fever and cough are the mostcommon symptoms in COVID‑19, and children can also be asymptomatic. Laboratory findingsare variable in children. Ground‑glass opacity, consolidation, patchy shadowing, halo sign, andinterstitial anomalies can be detected in lung computed tomography, or it can be normal. Inthis review, the frequency of COVID‑19 in children, differences between adults, the course ofpregnancy and newborn, clinical and laboratory findings, and treatment options are reviewed.