Mysterious Side of COVID-19 Pandemic: Children

Abstract

As of December 31, 2019, the Severe Acute Respiratory syndrome Coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified as the cause of a cluster of pneumonia cases in Wuhan, a city in the Hubei province of China and has been responsible for over 40,000 deaths worldwide. Data on the epidemiologic characteristics and clinical features, diagnosis and management of infected children are limited. Despite the high mortality rate of Middle East Respiratory syndrome and SARS in adults, the morbidity and mortality rates in children are low. Understanding the role of paediatric population in the transmission dynamics of the outbreak is important and critical for effective disease containment with respect to the public health. The aetiology of the milder disease form caused by the CoVs, including SARS-CoV-2, remains unknown in children. Infected children may be asymptomatic or have fever, dry cough, and fatigue and rarely have severe disease. Asymptomatic children may be driving the transmission of CoV more than we realise. Early diagnoses and treatment along with careful isolation can limit the outbreak. Children may help in future development of immunotherapy and vaccines for SARS-CoV-2. This review aimed to summarise current data available on SARS-CoV-2 pandemic to manage the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of CoV disease 2019 in the paediatric population.