COVID-19 in Children

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is an ongoing pandemic caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. While less susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 than adults, over five million children have been infected in the United States. Several important risk factors for more severe disease progression include obesity, pulmonary disease, gastrointestinal disorders, and neurological co-morbidities. Children with COVID-19 are admitted to the PICU because of severe acute COVID-19 illness or COVID-19 associated MIS-C. The primary reasons for admission for severe acute COVID-19 are respiratory problems such as pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Patients with MIS-C require PICU admission because of cardiac, cardiorespiratory, and gastrointestinal complications. MIS-C can be especially difficult to differentiate from Kawasaki disease. Hyperinflammation seen in SARS-CoV-2 infections plays a major role in pathogenesis and complications seen in severe acute COVID-19. Precautions to be taken during aerosol generating procedures, management strategies of COVID-19 acute respiratory failure, recognition and management of hypercoagulable states, and diagnosis and treatment of MIS-C have demanded unprecedented, rapid and unique adaptations in the PICU. The delta surge of 2021 was responsible for an increased disease burden in children and points to the key role of vaccinating children against this sometimes-deadly disease. Other long term public health impacts of the pandemic (mental health crisi...
Source: Pediatric Clinics of North America - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Source Type: research