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Age-Specific Differences in the Severity of COVID-19 Between Children and Adults: Reality and Reasons

Amir Tajbakhsh1, Khojaste Rahimi Jaberi2, Seyed Mohammad Gheibi Hayat3

  • 1Pharmaceutical Sciences Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran.

Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology
|July 19, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Children show milder symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) than adults. This study explores reasons for this age-related difference in disease severity and transmission potential.

Area of Science:

  • Virology
  • Pediatrics
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 generally exhibit milder symptoms than adults.
  • The exact reasons for this age-related disparity in disease severity remain unclear.
  • Understanding these differences is crucial for managing the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To identify potential explanations for age-related differences in SARS-CoV-2 infection severity.
  • To synthesize findings from existing studies on coronavirus and influenza outbreaks.
  • To inform diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, and public health strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review and synthesis of existing scientific literature.
  • Inclusion of data from previous coronavirus and influenza outbreaks due to incomplete SARS-CoV-2 data.
  • Analysis of age-related patterns in disease presentation and severity.

Main Results:

  • Children typically present with less severe symptoms compared to adults.
  • Pediatric patients, even with mild or asymptomatic infections, can significantly contribute to disease transmission.
  • Age-related differences influence the clinical management and public health response.

Conclusions:

  • Age-related variations in SARS-CoV-2 severity are significant for clinical practice and public health.
  • Further research is needed to fully elucidate the mechanisms behind these differences.
  • Recognizing the role of children in transmission is vital for effective control measures.

Keywords:
2019-nCoVAged adultCOVID-19CoronavirusGeriatric patientsPediatric patientsRespiratory infectionsSARS-CoV-2

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