http://www.babycenter.com/0_coronavirus-update-covid-19-infections-in-children-less-seve_40006924.bc
While children are susceptible to the new coronavirus (COVID-19), a relatively small percentage of infants, toddlers, and young children have reportedly been infected. The majority of those had, according to the AAP, mild to moderate symptoms.
An AAP study examined over 2,000 pediatric patients. Results showed nearly 90 percent of the children to be asymptomatic, mild or moderate. That said, the study also showed the percentage of infants with serious symptoms to behigher than that of older children.
It may sound counterintuitive that the virus is largely sparing the young. After all, we often hear about children dying and being hospitalized because of flu in the United States.
But many diseases pose a greater danger to adults than kids. For example, SARS and MERS – close cousins to the current coronavirus – largely spared children under age 12. Chickenpox typically clears up without major incident in children, yet is more likely to cause serious complications in adults. Even flu, though it does land many children in the hospital, kills a greater number of adults. |
