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How lethal is SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia when compared with respiratory syncytial virus and influenza in young children?

James Shunxian Wei1

  • 1MBBS, BMedSc, FRACGP, DCH, Principal GP, Standish Street Surgery, Vic; Visiting Medical Officer, Alpine Health, Vic.

Australian Journal of General Practice
|October 5, 2020
PubMed

Insights

The case fatality rate for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in children under 5 is 0.15-1.35%. This COVID-19 outcome is less lethal than RSV but more lethal than influenza in young children.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • While SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) generally causes milder illness in children than adults, the precise risk is not fully understood.
  • Understanding the comparative lethality of COVID-19 in young children is crucial for public health strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To estimate the case fatality rate (CFR) for SARS-CoV-2 infection and pneumonia in children under 5 years old.
  • To compare the CFR of pediatric COVID-19 with that of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of published case series on pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection.
  • Analysis of international and Australian government epidemiological data on COVID-19.

Main Results:

  • The estimated CFR for SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia in children under 5 years is 0.15-1.35%.
  • This rate is lower than the estimated CFR for RSV pneumonia (0.3-2.1%).
  • The CFR for pediatric COVID-19 pneumonia is higher than that for influenza pneumonia (0.14-0.45%).

Conclusions:

  • SARS-CoV-2 infection appears less lethal than RSV in children under 5.
  • COVID-19 is estimated to be more lethal than influenza in this young age group.
  • Comparative CFR data informs risk assessment and management of pediatric respiratory infections.
Abstract

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