COVID-19 in Children: Present and Future Perspective, An Interim Review

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected millions of people worldwide. However, the mechanism by which the pathogen affects children is not understood completely. Children so far accounted for only1 to 6.4% of diagnosed cases and the mortality rate is also less. Though clinical findings are similar to adults, with fever and respiratory symptoms being prevalent, fewer numbers of children appear to develop severe pneumonia. Observed attenuated response to the virus may possibly be due to decrease in the expression of the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptor in lungs, repeated viral exposure, and not having any underlying chronic diseases or immunosuppression. Suggested treatment included oxygen supplementation, mechanical ventilation in severe cases, nutritional support, and maintaining fluids and electrolyte balances. Although, no definitive pharmacological therapy is available, various combination of drugs like hydroxychloroquine, lopinavir/ritonavir, remdesivir, tocilizumab, and convalescent serum show promising result to an extent. As there is no specific therapeutic measure for this ailment, aggressive efforts are being made to develop a potential vaccine against the disease. Although few reports on epidemiology of COVID-19 in children have been published, comprehensive reports are lacking. The present article reviews on important issues such as epidemiological characteristics, postulations of milder disease, therapeutic aspect, and recent development of vaccination against COVID-19 in children.