Children Get Less Sick with COVID Due to Better Immune Response

It is well-known now that Covid-19 is exceptionally dangerous to those in certain at-risk demographics. Those with preexisting conditions, including everything from obesity to cardiovascular issues, are more likely to develop severe symptoms and require hospitalization. The same is true for older individuals, especially those over the age of 65.

While illness does not always follow logic, it would stand to reason that the opposite would also be true—younger people with stronger immune systems would be less likely to develop severe cases of Covid-19. In the case of the coronavirus, this theory holds true. Scientists have been able to observe exactly this trend, with far fewer children than adults suffering from serious cases of Covid-19.

A recent study showed that children with Covid-19 experienced shorter stays in the hospital, required use of ventilators less often, and died at a lower rate. The CDC corroborated these results by asserting that only eight children per 100,000 experienced hospitalization due to Covid-19. By comparison, 164.5 adults per 100,000 were hospitalized by the virus.

Despite the observable gap between severe COVID cases in adults and children, scientists were unsure why exactly the differences existed and why they were so stark.

Immune System Response

To get to the bottom of this puzzle, researchers examined the blood and cell samples of children and compared them to those of adults. What they discovered was that children produced two cytokines at a much higher level. These immune system proteins contribute to an early response to infection and help prevent the coronavirus from replicating.

In conjunction, these two proteins are exceptionally effective at helping children avoid one of the more devastating symptoms of Covid-19—lung problems. In other words, while children do contract Covid-19 and can get extremely ill, they tend to fare far better than adults when infected.

What it Means

By uncovering what aids in children combatting the virus more effectively than adults, scientists have taken a tremendous step toward discovering a treatment for Covid-19. By developing a way to boost certain immune responses—such as those spurred on by the two cytokines in children—doctors can give Covid-19 patients a better chance of survival and reduced risk of severe illness.

The immune system protein revelation could even contribute to the development of future vaccines, as it could boost the body’s innate response, encouraging it to fight the virus more effectively.