Development of child immunity in the context of COVID-19 pandemic

Clin Immunol. 2020 Aug:217:108510. doi: 10.1016/j.clim.2020.108510. Epub 2020 Jun 13.

Abstract

Children, because of having an immature immune system, are usually more prone than the adults to the microbial infections and have more severe symptoms, which is especially true for the newborns, and very young children. However, the review of clinical data from the current COVID-19 pandemic indicates otherwise. We discuss here what are the main features and components of children's immune system, the role of maternal transmission of immunity, and what are the possible explanations for the seemingly lower infection rate and severity of COVI-19 in children.

Keywords: COVID-19; Child immunity; Immune system development; Macrophages.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Betacoronavirus / immunology*
  • Betacoronavirus / pathogenicity
  • COVID-19
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / immunology*
  • Coronavirus Infections / transmission
  • Coronavirus Infections / virology
  • Cytokines / immunology
  • Disease Resistance
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immune System / virology*
  • Incidence
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Milk, Human / immunology
  • Pandemics*
  • Placenta / immunology
  • Placenta / virology
  • Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / immunology*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / transmission
  • Pneumonia, Viral / virology
  • Pregnancy
  • SARS-CoV-2

Substances

  • Cytokines