A fresh NIAID-sponsored study of COVID-19 in kids has commenced, according to a news release on their website. Their goal is to assess the short-term and long-term health outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children. And in particular the pathways their immune systems follow, and their inflammatory responses. This much-needed study will include at least 250 children and young adults.
Why the NIAID-Sponsored Study of COVID-19 in Kids is Important
The SARS-CoV-2 virus infection leading to the COVID-19 disease, commonly causes either mild or no illness among children. They can, however infect other people of all ages. And some kids can become seriously ill and develop life-threatening conditions.
Those symptoms may include severe inflammations of the heart, lungs, kidneys, brain, skin, eyes and gastrointestinal organs. These typically appear several weeks after exposure, but are disproportionately common among ‘Hispanic and Black’ children according to NIAID’.
Therefore, ‘It is critical that we learn how to prevent and treat this rare but very serious syndrome in children.’ So says National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases NIAID director Anthony S. Fauci.
More Details About the Goals and Procedures of the Study
The NIAID-sponsored study of COVID-19 in kids, will close gaps in understanding of the clinical spectrum of the disease in young people. It will enroll at least 250 children and young adults. Moreover, these will have detectable SARS-CoV-2 virus in respiratory samples, multi system inflammatory syndrome, or both.
Then it will follow these young people for a least a year to determine:
1… The proportion that have major health complications after six, and twelve months
2… The number that are re-hospitalized after an initial hospital admission, or are deceased
3… Immunological mechanisms and characteristics associated with these trends
We are somewhat surprised to discover we apparently know so little about the coronavirus in young people and kids. But we are delighted this is now receiving attention, and eagerly await the results.
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Preview Image: Cell Infected with Virus Particles
