Are children less likely to get sick from COVID-19?

Children generally appear to be less likely to become seriously ill from COVID-19 compared to adults. This is evident from several studies and observations since the start of the pandemic.

Children who become infected with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, often have milder symptoms than adults. Many children experience mild or asymptomatic infections. The percentage of hospital admissions among children with COVID-19 is significantly lower than among adults. When children are admitted to hospital, they are usually less seriously ill than adult patients.

Although rare, some children who have had COVID-19 may develop a severe inflammatory response known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). This condition can have serious consequences, but is relatively rare.

As with adults, children with underlying health conditions, such as obesity, asthma or immunocompromised conditions, are more susceptible to more severe forms of COVID-19.

In short, children generally have a lower chance of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. However, caution and preventative measures remain important, especially for children with underlying health conditions.

Source: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-022-34616-8

Source: https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/103602

Author: Prof. Dr. Dirk Devroey - Latest update: 2022-02-22 - Copyright: Clinifacts 2024