Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 1, 2025
Remote Laboratory Management: Respiratory Virus Diagnostics
Published on: April 6, 2019
Characterising and managing paediatric SARSCoV-2 infection: Learning about the virus in a global classroom
Maria C Cardenas1, Samyd S Bustos2,3, Elizabeth Ann L Enninga4
1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota, USA.
Insights
Children generally experience milder COVID-19 than adults, but severe cases occur, especially in infants. Further research is needed for pediatric prevention and treatment strategies against SARS-CoV-2.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Virology
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 presents differently in children compared to adults, with a spectrum from mild to asymptomatic cases.
- Infants under one year are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 disease.
- The angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor is key to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with potential age, racial, and gender-specific expression differences influencing disease presentation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a comprehensive review of current data on COVID-19 in the pediatric population.
- To collect and present relevant information on pediatric COVID-19, including treatment guidelines.
Main Methods:
- Systematic literature search across multiple databases.
- Inclusion of studies published from 2019 onwards.
- Focus on English, French, and Spanish language publications.
Main Results:
- Children typically present with less severe COVID-19 than adults, including asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2.
- Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C) is a significant condition requiring recognition.
- Antiviral or immunomodulatory therapy decisions for pediatric patients must be individualized. Remdesivir is FDA-approved for hospitalized children over 12.
Conclusions:
- Urgent research is needed for prevention and treatment of COVID-19 in at-risk and infected children, particularly those with comorbidities.
- The long-term impact of SARS-CoV-2 on children requires further investigation.
- COVID-19 represents a significant global pandemic with potentially lasting historical implications.
Aim:
This study is a comprehensive review with the purpose of collecting the most relevant data in several sections including current treatment guidelines in the paediatric population.
Methods:
Literature was systematically searched in different databases. Results were limited to 2019+ and English, French and Spanish language.
Results:
Children can exhibit mild and less severe COVID-19 disease than adults and also have asymptomatic carriage of SARS-CoV-2, while severe disease is more frequently noted during infancy (<1 year). SARS-CoV-2 binds the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptor; age-, racial-, and gender-specific differences in ACE-2 expression need to be elucidated in order to explain the differential clinical profiles between children and adults. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is an important condition to recognise in children. The decision to use antiviral or immunomodulatory therapy in a child or adolescent should be individualised based on the clinical scenario. Remdesivir is the only FDA-approved therapy available for children older than 12 years old who require hospitalisation for COVID-19.
Conclusion:
Further studies are urgently required to address prevention and treatment in at-risk and infected children, especially with underlying comorbidities. The chapter on the overall impact of COVID-19 in children has not yet been written. Nevertheless, SARS-CoV-2 has now joined a long list of human pandemics, which may forever change the world's history.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
01:17Transmission-based Precautions I: Contact, Enteric, and Droplets
Contact Precautions:
Contact precautions are the measures taken to prevent the transmission of infectious agents, especially epidemiologically important microorganisms such as MRSA or influenza, primarily transmitted through direct or indirect contact with an...
01:30Pneumonia V: Nursing management and Prevention
The nurse must practice strict medical asepsis and adhere to infection control guidelines to minimize healthcare-associated infections.
Enhance airway patency
Position the patient correctly to facilitate drainage of the affected lung segments. Manual or mechanical percussion and vibration can also be employed....
01:26Standard Precaution
Hand hygiene is the most crucial means to prevent the transmission of disease. Employers are legally required to provide their workers with personal protective equipment (PPE) to minimize exposure or contact with...
01:20Infection
The chain begins with pathogens: bacteria, viruses, fungi, prions, or parasites such as protozoa helminths. These can be present on the skin as transient or resident flora, or they can be acquired from the environment. Identifying and treating the type of infection and...
01:28Pneumonia IV: Management
Bacterial Pneumonia Treatment
For bacterial pneumonia, antibiotics serve as the cornerstone of therapy. Initial treatment often begins with empirical antibiotics, tailored to the anticipated causative organism and adjusted based on culture results. Key antibiotic choices include: