COVID-19 in children: An overview

Abstract

COVID-19 or Coronavirus 2 had emerged in Wuhan, Hubei province in China in December 2019 only. From there it spread to almost whole of the world, spreading to many continents, WHO declared it as pandemic. So far, more than 3.5 million of the world population is infected and more than 245,000 people have died. Coronaviruses as such usually causes mild respiratory symptoms in children; however, SARS-CoV-2 or COVID-19 can cause severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or death. Children presenting with respiratory distress have to be managed in intensive care units. COVID-19 spreads by the human to human transmission, forcing many countries going through administrationimposed lockdowns bringing economic activity to a halt. At present, there is no approved antiviral drug for specific therapy for COVID-19, therefore personal hygiene and social distancing play a major role in its prevention. In children the presentation can be mild, not raising any suspicion but has huge potential to cause community spread with a huge socio-economic cost.