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Recommendations for Pediatric Dermatology Practice during COVID-19 Pandemic
Ram Gulati1, Bhumesh K Katakam1, P S S Ranugha1
1Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Gandhi Medical College, Secunderabad, Telangana, India.
Insights
Children infected with coronavirus disease (COVID-19) experience milder symptoms than adults. However, children with underlying health conditions may face a higher risk of severe illness.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The global coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic impacts all age groups, presenting a significant disease burden worldwide.
- While children can contract COVID-19, they are affected less frequently and severely compared to adults, with over 90% exhibiting asymptomatic or mild to moderate symptoms.
Purpose of the Study:
- To summarize the epidemiological characteristics and clinical presentation of COVID-19 in pediatric populations.
- To identify factors contributing to the differential susceptibility and severity of COVID-19 in children versus adults.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing epidemiological data and clinical reports on COVID-19 cases in children.
- Analysis of potential immunological, genetic, and environmental factors influencing COVID-19 outcomes in pediatric patients.
Main Results:
- Children represent a small percentage of overall COVID-19 cases (2% in those under 20), with childhood cases forming 1-5% of this group.
- The majority of pediatric COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic or mild/moderate, contrasting with adult experiences.
- Factors such as reduced exposure, varying immune responses, differences in Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptor expression, and potential protective effects of vaccines (measles, BCG) may explain milder pediatric outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Children generally experience less severe outcomes from COVID-19 compared to adults.
- Underlying medical conditions such as cardiac or respiratory diseases, diabetes, immunodeficiency, cancer, or immunosuppression increase the risk of severe COVID-19 in children.
Abstract:
The current scenario of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in a huge disease burden worldwide affecting people across all age groups. Although children get infected by coronavirus, they are less commonly affected. Only 2% of cases are being reported among patients aged less than 20 years of age and childhood cases constitute around 1-5% of them. Moreover, they are less likely to be seriously affected when compared to adults, with more than 90% of them being either asymptomatic or having mild to moderate disease. This could be attributed to less exposure or sensitivity to COVID-19, varying immune response mechanisms, differences in the expression/function of the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 receptors or higher antibody levels to viruses owing to exposures to multiple respiratory infections, protective role of measles and BCG vaccine, and few associated comorbidities. However, children with certain underlying medical conditions like cardiac or respiratory disease, diabetes, immunodeficiency disorders, cancer or on immunosuppressants may be at a higher risk for developing severe disease.
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