Review article
https://doi.org/10.37797/ig.41.1.3
Covid-19 in children
Diana Didović
; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević“, Zagreb, Croatia
Andrea Nikčević
; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević“, Zagreb, Croatia
Ivana Valenčak-Ignjatić
orcid.org/0000-0003-1523-1031
; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević“, Zagreb, Croatia
Lorna Stemberger-Marić
orcid.org/0000-0002-5002-3492
; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević“, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Srđan Roglić
orcid.org/0000-0002-4441-2600
; Pediatric Infectious Diseases Department, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases „Dr. Fran Mihaljević“, Zagreb, Croatia; School of Medicine, University of Zagreb, Croatia
Abstract
COVID-19 in children accounts for up to 8% of all the cases and is less severe than in adults. This could be an underestimation. A significant number of children are asymptomatic. Sympto-matic infection is hard to distinguish from other respiratory tract viral infections based on symp-toms and laboratory results. Anosmia is the only symptom in children that is highly suggestive of COVID-19. Infected children mostly have a positive household member. However, the role of children in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still controversial. Data suggest that schoolchildren have a greater impact in SARS-CoV-2 transmission compared to younger children. Multisystem in-flammatory syndrome in children is a new entity reported since April 2020 and is considered a rare complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It occurs in previously healthy older children and adolescents presenting with multisystem involvement and elevated inflammatory markers. Most children respond well to immune-modifying therapy.
Treatment of COVID-19 in children is based solely on data received from adults and consists of supportive treatment and, in rare occasions, antiviral therapy (remdesivir), corticosteroids (dexa-methasone) and monoclonal antibodies (tocilizumab). Further studies in children are needed in order to better understand this disease. This article discusses clinical presentation and therapeutic options for COVID-19 in children.
Keywords
SARS-CoV-2; children; COVID-19; multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C); paediatric multisystem inflammatory syndrome
Hrčak ID:
259116
URI
Publication date:
18.6.2021.
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