Coronavirus in children under one year old

The most vulnerable age group to coronavirus among children is babies under one year old. Alexander Gorelov, deputy director for scientific work of the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor, talks about the nuances.

Coronavirus infection in children, compared with adults, is relatively easy, reports TASS, referring to the words of Gorelov. However, the most vulnerable are the very young – children under the age of 12 months. This is due to the fact that during this period the formation of active immunity occurs. The specialist also explains that the increased incidence of morbidity in adolescents 14+ is associated with their social activity:

The most vulnerable group among children are children under one year old and adolescents. This is due to the fact that children under one year old become infected from their parents, and they are in the phase of formation of adaptive immunity. Therefore, with any infection, this is the most vulnerable part of the contingent. The reason for the increased involvement of adolescents in the epidemiological process, in addition to their mobility, is due to the change in the genovariant of the coronavirus to the delta strain, which is now, in fact, dominant in Russia and the world.

Regarding the severity of the course of the disease in children, the expert notes that, like in adults, adolescents can have varying degrees – from asymptomatic to severe. But on average, the disease is easier in children.

In children much more often than in adults, gastrointestinal manifestations are noted – vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain. But the classic symptoms of COVID-19 – fever, runny nose, cough, muscle pain – are common. Most babies recover within 1–2 weeks.

Children under the age of 12 months are at high risk of a severe form of COVID-19, experts from the Center for Hygienic Education of the Population say. A study of 2,100 children with confirmed COVID-19 in China, from late December to early February, found that just under 11% of babies experienced severe covid. For comparison: in the age group 1-5 years old, about 7% of children have had this form, 4% of children from 6 to 10 years old, 4% of children from 11 to 15 years old and 3% of children from 16 years old and older.

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