22 Aug Symptoms Alone Do Not Accurately Identify COVID-19 Infection in Kids

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:

Dr. Yonker

Lael Yonker, MD
Pediatric Pulmonology
Director, MGH Cystic Fibrosis Center
Principal Investigator, Pediatric COVID biorepository
Mucosal Immunology and Biology Research Center
Massachusetts General Hospital

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Children were initially felt to be spared from the COVID-19 pandemic. Here, we show that children can become sick from SARS-CoV-2 infection, and even if the initial illness is mild, some go on to develop a severe inflammatory illness after the initial illness. We also show that children can carry very high levels of virus early in the course of infection, suggesting they may play a larger role in spreading the virus than previously thought.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

 Response: As schools resume, measures should be taken to mitigate the possibility of children spreading the infection. Symptom assessment alone does not accurately identify COVID-19 in kids. Social distancing, mask wearing and frequent hand washing will be important measures to incorporate as schools reopen to miminze risks.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this work?

Response: Research should focus on how children transmit the virus and what can be done to mitigate spread. Research should also focus on inflammatory responses to determine what causes the severe post-infectious inflammatory response.

No disclosures. 

Citation:

Pediatric SARS-CoV-2: Clinical Presentation, Infectivity, and Immune Responses
Yonker, Lael M. et al.
The Journal of Pediatrics, Volume 0, Issue 0

https://www.jpeds.com/article/S0022-3476(20)31023-4/fulltext 

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Last Updated on August 22, 2020 by Marie Benz MD FAAD