Children are at risk for severe complications and death due to coronavirus, according to a new study published in JAMA Pediatrics.
New research coauthored by a Rutgers researcher showed that children, teens, and young adults face a bigger risk for complications from COVID-19. Moreover, those with existing health conditions are at even greater risk.
"The idea that COVID-19 is sparing of young people is just false," said study coauthor Lawrence C. Kleinman, professor and vice chair for academic development and chief of the Department of Pediatrics' Division of Population Health, Quality and Implementation Science at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School.
"While children are more likely to get very sick if they have other chronic conditions, including obesity, it is important to note that children without chronic illness are also at risk. Parents need to continue to take the virus seriously."
The researchers observed 48 children and young adults, from newborns to 21 years old. These patients were under pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in the US and Canada for COVID-19 in March and April.
Findings showed that over 80 percent had chronic underlying conditions, such as obesity, immune suppression, seizures, diabetes, or chronic lung disease.
Of these patients, 40 percent needed technological support to survive due to developmental or genetic issues.
Results showed that more than 20 percent suffered from failure of two or more organ systems due to COVID-19. Nearly 40 percent had to use a ventilator and breathing tube.
Benign among children
Moreover, nearly 33 percent of the children at the end of the follow-up period remained at the hospital due to coronavirus.
"This study provides a baseline understanding of the early disease burden of COVID-19 in pediatric patients," said Hariprem Rajasekhar, a pediatric intensivist involved in conducting the study at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School's Department of Pediatrics.
"The findings confirm that this emerging disease was already widespread in March and that it is not universally benign among children."
The team said they were "cautiously encouraged" by hospital outcomes for the children. They saw 4.2 percent mortality rate for PICU patients compared with reported mortality rates of up to 62 percent among older patients in ICUs.
Kleinman stressed that doctors in the New York metropolitan area are discovering a new syndrome in children related to coronavirus.
"Although our data collection for this study has ended, we continue to develop collaborations with colleagues in our region and across the country to try to understand these more severe complications," he said.
Kawasaki disease
He mentioned concerns such as heart failure and the Kawasaki disease-like condition.
New York City health officials expressed concern about a recent increase in cases of a rare inflammatory disease. This usually affects children and can be associated with the coronavirus, according to Mayor Bill de Blasio.
De Blasio said health officials reported at least 15 pediatric cases of this illness. This typically affects children. The symptoms are high fever, swelling in blood vessels, abdominal pain, a rash, and vomiting.
The patients suffered from a fever. More than half of them experienced a rash, abdominal pain, diarrhea, or vomiting, the NYC Health Department said in a separate report. “Respiratory symptoms were reported in less than half of these patients.”
