[ad_1]
Doctors say children who tested positive had much higher levels of coronavirus in their airways than adult intensive care patients.
BOSTON – The role of children in the spread of COVID-19 has been the subject of debate for months. Now, a new study apparently confirms the worst-case scenario regarding children and the coronavirus. Not only are children quite capable of “silently spreading” COVID-19, they appear to be significantly more contagious than infected adults.
Overall, the study authors from Massachusetts General Hospital and Mass General Hospital for Children say their findings suggest that children probably play a much larger role in the spread of COVID-19 across the country than they do. we didn’t think so initially.
A total of 122 children (aged 0-22) were included in this research. Of this group, 49 have tested positive for the coronavirus. 18 others presented with late symptoms related to COVID-19. Children who tested positive displayed much higher levels of the virus in their airways than even adult patients with coronavirus in intensive care.
“I was surprised at the high levels of the virus we found in children of all ages, especially during the first two days of infection,” says lead author of the study Dr. Lael Yonker, director of the MGH Kystic Fibrosis Center, in a statement. “I didn’t expect the viral load to be this high. You think of a hospital and all the precautions taken to treat critically ill adults, but the viral loads of those hospitalized patients are significantly lower than that of a “ healthy child ” walking around with a high viral load. SARS-CoV-2. “
The higher the “viral load” of an infected person, the more contagious that person is to those around them. Identifying children infected with the coronavirus is difficult because most do not show symptoms. Even those who often develop symptoms that can be mistaken for the flu or the common cold. With all of this in mind, it’s impossible to say how many young “silent spreaders” infect others without knowing it.
Coronavirus fears as children return to school
These findings, of course, have major implications as schools across the country begin to open their doors to students for a new school year.
“Children are not immune to this infection and their symptoms do not correlate with exposure and infection,” says lead author Dr Alessio Fasano, director of the Center for Research on immunology and biology of the mucous membranes of the MGH. “During this COVID-19 pandemic, we mainly screened symptomatic subjects, so we came to the wrong conclusion that the vast majority of those infected are adults. However, our results show that children are not protected against this virus. We should not view children as potential vectors of this virus. “
These results affect many more people than just children. If a child catches the coronavirus from another student and brings it home, adults and / or grandparents living under the same roof may be exposed to the virus. This is of particular concern for low-income families who are more likely to have multiple generations living in one home. Of the infected children in this study, 51% came from low-income communities. Conversely, only 2% live in high income communities.
Children have fewer immune receptors for SARS-CoV2, which has led many to believe that they are much less likely to become infected, sick, or contagious to others. This work challenges this theory. A lack of immune receptors doesn’t seem to correlate with a lower viral load after all. While it seems true to most that children develop symptoms less often, they are still quite capable of infecting others and of being infected themselves.
Go virtual the smartest option?
So what can schools do to keep children, teachers and families safe? The study authors say relying on temperature checks and symptom monitoring simply won’t be enough. It’s a tough situation, but they believe that mandatory social distancing, universal use of face masks, routine handwashing tutorials, and the incorporation of distance learning whenever possible, can all help. go a long way in reducing the risk of coronavirus in schools across the country.
“This study provides essential facts for decision-makers to make the best possible decisions for schools, daycares and other institutions that serve children,” concludes Dr Fasano. “Children are a possible source of the spread of this virus, and this should be taken into account in the planning stages for the reopening of schools.”
“If schools were to reopen completely without the necessary precautions, it is likely that children will play a more important role in this pandemic,” the study concludes.
The study is published in the Journal of Pediatrics.
Do you like studying? Follow us on Facebook!
[ad_2]
Source link