The children of China provided the first clue that Covid-19 does not spread its ill-effects equitably across the generations. The young, except those with underlying health conditions, appear to be escaping the worst of this pandemic.
One early study showed that, of more than 700 children known to have close contact with a confirmed case or to live in a recently affected household, only 10 tested positive. Of those children, all under 15 years old, none needed respiratory support or intensive care. A study in the journal Paediatrics, released early and subject to revision, noted one death in more than 2,000 confirmed and suspected child cases.
Now attention is turning to the scientific reasons for the age discrepancy. One UK academic hopes to start a study into whether young lungs lack an appropriate “lock” that can be picked by the virus to gain entry into the body’s respiratory machinery.