![]() ![]() There have been multiple mutations of the SARS-CoV-2 virus since it first emerged, though most have not affected the function of the virus until recently. Viruses mutate naturally, and scientists expect new variants of viruses as they spread. When examining how COVID impacts kids, there’s an important caveat: Variants of the virus – like delta and omicron – could change the severity of the disease. ![]() A note on delta, other variants and how they could affect kids Fortunately, we now have a safe and effective vaccine for most children and teens (5 and older) that helps protect them from the risks of COVID. While the rate of children getting seriously ill from COVID-19 is lower compared to the rate of adults, COVID-19 can be serious, even for healthy kids. “The point I'm making is that yes, it's less severe, but it's still potentially a very severe disease for kids.” “Yes, it is absolutely true that COVID-19 is less severe in kids than it is in adults, and particularly older adults,” he says, “but in absolute numbers, COVID is causing more harm to kids than influenza, which we consider to be a serious condition for kids, even in a typical year. “This is where the conversation about severity gets a little bit more nuanced,” Dr. During the pandemic, COVID-19 has become one of the top 10 causes of pediatric death. The numbers are more sobering when you consider that childhood deaths in the U.S. “As pediatricians and parents, we want to avoid serious illness, complications and death altogether,” says David Brumbaugh, MD, Children’s Colorado’s Chief Medical Officer. have died from COVID-19, including 21 here in Colorado. But, tragically, more than 625 children in the U.S. Many of them required critical care in the ICU and even mechanical ventilation.įortunately, most kids get better with care. Here in Colorado, preliminary data show that more than 1,400 kids between 0 and 19 have been hospitalized (equal to 3.2% of the state’s total hospitalizations). Think back to life before the pandemic if up to 20 children in a school of 1,000 students were sick enough to need care in the hospital, it would be remarkable. Experts estimate that out of every 1,000 kids that have a positive COVID-19 test, between 1 and 20 of them will need to be hospitalized. Of the kids who have contracted the virus in the U.S., we know that tens of thousands have been sick enough to need care in the hospital. While the proportion of kids getting very sick with COVID is low, it isn’t zero. Kids requiring hospitalization and intensive care This is why masking and other precautions remain important, especially for kids who aren't yet eligible for the vaccine. O’Leary, “but it’s a reminder that the virus is still spreading in unvaccinated populations.” With fewer preventive measures in place, we’ll likely see more cases in kids as well. This means that the proportion of total cases made up of kids is getting larger. (Here’s the AAP report from November with full details.)Īs restrictions have eased and more people get vaccinated, kids are mingling more. Here in Colorado, more than 146,000 of the state’s 775,000 cases were in people younger than 19 that’s 19% of the state’s total case count. That number represents 17% of all COVID-19 cases. children had tested positive for COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic. ![]() As of November 11, 2021, more than 6 million U.S. “We don’t want to add to families’ stress, but we do want parents and children to continue to take COVID-19 seriously enough to maintain precautions - including and especially getting all family members vaccinated as soon as possible.” Cases in kids – and the proportion of cases – are upĪccording to a report by the American Academy of Pediatrics, when the pandemic began and many states went into lockdown, children made up 5% of total cases. Some children have even died, though fortunately deaths have been very rare,” says Children’s Hospital Colorado pediatric infectious disease expert Sean O’Leary, MD, MPH. “While children are less likely to become severely ill from the virus that causes COVID-19, kids can get and spread the virus, they can get sick, and some have been hospitalized. COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations in children We took a deep dive into the myriad ways child health has been impacted – and what we can do about it. Yet the idea that kids are not impacted by the virus is a myth that is as dangerous as it is inaccurate. Throughout the pandemic, one of the so-called silver linings that people have clung to is that COVID-19 affects children less than it affects adults. Reference the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) for current guidance. Please follow all rules and guidelines set by state and local public health and safety authorities. Editor's note: This page was updated on January 10, 2022. ![]()
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