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Review
. 2020 May:214:108420.
doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108420. Epub 2020 Apr 10.

COVID-19 - Considerations for the paediatric rheumatologist

Christian M Hedrich  1
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 - Considerations for the paediatric rheumatologist

Christian M Hedrich. Clin Immunol. 2020 May.

Abstract

The novel coronavirus SARS-CoV2 is a threat to the health and well-being of millions of lifes across the globe. A significant proportion of adult patients require hospitalisation and may develop severe life-threatening complications. Children, on the other hand, can carry and transmit the virus, but usually do not develop severe disease. Mortality in the paediatric age-group is relatively low. Differences in virus containment and clearance, as well as reduced inflammation-related tissue and organ damage may be caused by age-specific environmental and host factors. Since severe complications in adults are frequently caused by uncontrolled immune responses and a resulting "cytokine storm" that may be controlled by targeted blockade of cytokines, previously established treatment with immunosuppressive treatments may indeed protect children from complications.

Keywords: ARDS; COVID; Cytokine storm; Inflammation; Paediatric; Rheumatology; SARS; SARS-CoV2.

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