Open AccessCOVID-19 in children: Heterogeneity within the disease and hypothetical pathogenesis
Author(s) -
Narissara Suratan,
Willem A. Dik,
Pantipa Chatchatee,
P. Martin van Hagen
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
asian pacific journal of allergy and immunology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.405
H-Index - 33
ISSN - 0125-877X
DOI - 10.12932/ap-170720-0920
Subject(s) - disease , medicine , covid-19 , pathogenesis , immunology , kawasaki disease , coronavirus , immune system , virology , outbreak , infectious disease (medical specialty) , pathology , artery
The disease course of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is usually mild and self-limiting in previously healthy children, but they may also develop severe disease. Severe COVID-19 infection is especially observed in very young children or those with underlying comorbidities. Moreover, a multisystem inflammatory syndrome that mimics the Kawasaki disease shock syndrome can develop in children that are genetically predisposed to displaying an overactive immune response to SARS-CoV-2 infection. In this review, we describe the clinical phenotypes of mild and severe COVID-19 and multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C). We also discuss the possible immunobiological mechanisms that may be involved in the protection of children against COVID-19 and the development of multisystem inflammatory syndrome.