SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in Children

Alpana Waghmare; Diego R Hijano

doi:10.1016/j.rdc.2024.09.003

SARS-CoV-2 Infection and COVID-19 in Children

Rheum Dis Clin North Am. 2025 Feb;51(1):139-156. doi: 10.1016/j.rdc.2024.09.003.

Authors

Alpana Waghmare¹, Diego R Hijano²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center Vaccine, 1100 Fairview Avenue North, Seattle, WA 98109, USA; Department of Infectious Diseases, Division Seattle Children's Hospital, Seattle, WA, USA.
² St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place Mail Stop 230, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. Electronic address: Diego.Hijano@STJUDE.ORG.

PMID: 39550102
DOI: 10.1016/j.rdc.2024.09.003

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is common in children, and clinical manifestations can vary depending on age, underlying disease, and vaccination status. Most children will have asymptomatic or mild infection, but certain baseline characteristics can increase the risk of moderate to severe disease. The following article will provide an overview of the clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease 2019 in children, including the post-infectious phenomenon called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children. Currently available treatment and prophylaxis strategies will be outlined, with the caveat that new therapeutics and clinical efficacy data are constantly on the horizon.

Keywords: COVID-19; Children; MIS-C; Pediatrics; SARS-CoV-2.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

COVID-19* / complications
Child
Humans
SARS-CoV-2
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome* / physiopathology
Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome* / therapy

Supplementary concepts

pediatric multisystem inflammatory disease, COVID-19 related