Clinical Epidemiology of Pediatric Coronavirus Disease 2019 and its Postacute Sequelae

Semin Respir Crit Care Med 2023; 44: 066-074 DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1759566The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected individuals of all ages across. Although children generally experience a benign illness from COVID-19, the emergence of novel variants of the virus has resulted in significant changes in the morbidity and mortality rates for this age group. Currently, COVID-19 is the eighth leading cause of pediatric deaths in the United States. In addition to acute respiratory illness, some children can develop a severe postinfectious condition known as a multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, which can progress to rapid-onset cardiogenic shock. Recovery from COVID-19 can also be slow for some children, resulting in persistent or reoccurring symptoms for months, commonly referred to as long COVID. These postinfectious sequelae are often distressing for children and their parents, can negatively impact the quality of life, and impose a considerable burden on the health care system. In this article, we review the clinical epidemiology of pediatric COVID-19 and outline the management considerations for its acute and postacute manifestations. [...] Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc. 333 Seventh Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10001, USAArticle in Thieme eJournals: Table of contents  |  Abstract  |  Full text
Source: Seminars in Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine - Category: Respiratory Medicine Authors: Tags: Review Article Source Type: research