The immune system of children: the key to understanding SARS-CoV-2 susceptibility?

Type Journal Article Author Rita Carsetti Author Concetta Quintarelli Author Isabella Quinti Author Eva Piano Mortari Author Alimuddin Zumla Author Giuseppe Ippolito Author Franco Locatelli URL https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lanchi/PIIS2352-4642(20)30135-8.pdf Series The Lancet Correspondence Volume 4 Publication The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health Date 06/05/2020 DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/S2352-4642(20)30135-8 Abstract Humanity has repeatedly faced epidemics of known and novel pathogens and the immune system has adapted to survive. Since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a new zoonotic pathogen, there is no pre-existing immunity and the whole of humanity is susceptible to infection and developing COVID-19 disease.Adults can be infected with different outcomes, from asymptomatic, mild, moderate to severe disease, and death. Children can also be infected by SARS-CoV-2, but most paediatric cases with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection are mild; severe COVID-19 disease in children is rare.