According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of infected children is increasing gradually.
The novel coronavirus is impacting the global population in drastic ways, older individuals are facing the most threats and challenges during this pandemic. The virus is known to be severe and fatal for the elderly, those with weakened immune systems, and those with underlying health conditions such as cancer, chronic respiratory disease, diabetes, and heart disease. It has been thought that children appear to be survivors of serious illness. In most cases, children with COVID-19 only develop mild to moderate symptoms, whereas some tagged as asymptomatic.
Now, according to the research team from the Royal Hospital for Children, Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh, and the University of Liverpool, children and young individuals are less likely to develop severe COVID-19 or die from the disease. The research was published in the British Medical Journal. Moreover, the team explored the factors associated with death, critical care, and the development of the multisystem inflammatory syndrome (also known as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome) in children. According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the number of infected children is gradually increasing.
However, new research suggests that they are less likely to develop severe symptoms of COVID-19. During this research, the researchers examined around 651 children and teenagers (aged 19 years and below) with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19. The team found that six children or teenagers (less than 1%) had died in the hospital during this period, compared to 27% across all other age groups. Moreover, the researchers found that the underlying medical conditions of those six children who died were profound. According to the team, around 18% (those who were below one-month and those who are between 10 and 14 years old) were admitted to intensive care. The researchers also found that around 52 children or teenagers developed Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome.