COVID-19 in Children

COVID-19 in children accounts for up to 8% of all the cases and is less severe than in adults. This could be an underestimation. A significant number of children are asymptomatic. Symptomatic infection is hard to distinguish from other respiratory tract viral infections based on symptoms and laboratory results. Anosmia is the only symptom in children that is highly suggestive of COVID-19. Infected children mostly have a positive household member. However, the role of children in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is still controversial. Data suggest that schoolchildren have a greater impact in SARS-CoV-2 transmission compared to younger children. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children is a new entity reported since April 2020 and is considered a rare complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection. It occurs in previously healthy older children and adolescents presenting with multisystem involvement and elevated inflammatory markers. Most children respond well to immune-modifying therapy. Treatment of COVID-19 in children is based solely on data received from adults and consists of supportive treatment and, in rare occasions, antiviral therapy (remdesivir), corticosteroids (dexamethasone) and monoclonal antibodies (tocilizumab). Further studies in children are needed in order to better understand this disease. This article discusses clinical presentation and therapeutic options for COVID-19 in children.