Younger People Not Immune to COVID-19

For a while, it looked like COVID-19 was going easy on young people. ScienceAlert reported in February that most children appeared less susceptible to the infection and possibly even experienced milder illnesses if they did get sick. Young children mostly seemed to be unaffected, while teens and young adults crowded beaches with perceived immunity. Then, in the blink of an eye, reality hit and we're starting to learn that our perception may not have been accurate. It now seems that children under the age of 1 year old are at high risk of developing severe respiratory symptoms, and a new illness similar to Kawasaki’s disease is striking children under 5 with devastating outcomes. Young adults have learned all those ignored warnings and spring break parties may not have been such a good idea, with some even joining higher risk groups in intensive care.

Babies at Higher Risk of COVID-19 Than PreviouslyBelieved

According to Mayo Clinic, infants under the age of one are at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19 symptoms than other children. This is probably due to a combination of their tiny lungs and still-developing immune systems. Babies in this age group should receive minimal contact outside their immediate family circle, and any household members who could be carrying or exposed to the virus should take appropriate quarantine measures to reduce the possibility of transmission within the home. Babies should be treated as high-risk family members who are protected from any and all exposure.

COVID-19 Exposes Children to Terrifying New Threat

Another previously unknown higher risk group is children under 5 years old. This age group isn’t generally at high risk of viral complications, which makes the current trend so scary. In April, the UK Pediatric Intensive Care Society released a statement warning doctors to be on the lookout for symptoms that resemble toxic shock and “atypical Kawasaki syndrome.” This dangerous inflammatory response may be similar to the deadly “cytokine storms” occurring in adult patients and is of particular concern.

Kawasaki disease is a rare illness of unknown origin that typically strikes children 5 years old and younger, although it does sometimes affect teens. It also strikes boys more often than girls, and it’s most commonly reported in children of Asian descent. Symptoms first present as a fever, rash, swelling in the hands and feet, bloodshot eyes, swollen lymph nodes and mouth irritation that may extend into the throat and lips.

As the disease progresses, the patient develops severe abdominal pain, vomiting and diarrhea. Patients may also experience joint pain and peeling skin in the extremities. About 25% of Kawasaki disease sufferers develop cardiovascular complications.

The British Medical Journal explains that this Kawasaki-like COVID-19 response in children can affect the structural integrity of blood vessels, causing them to leak out into the organs. This can lead to fluid buildup in the lungs, low blood pressure and cardiac inflammation, all of which can be life-threatening. Children having this reaction typically exhibit severe gastrointestinal involvement.

Toxic shock typically occurs with severe staph and strep infections, causing low blood pressure, low blood oxygen levels and organ failure. In the case of COVID-19 patients, this could be a result of the severe inflammatory response some people are having.

Young Adults Face Reality Check

It’s common when we’re young and in our prime to feel somewhat immortal, even untouchable. It might be easy to take our health for granted when youth and vitality are all we’ve known. It’s no surprise, then, that so many teens and college students have taken huge risks and ignored social distancing recommendations. According to a Business Insider report, Florida and Texas beaches were packed during spring break. In April, Vice reported on an online feud that had begun after at least 44 University of Texas students tested positive for COVID-19 following a spring break romp in Cabo, Mexico.

And some young people have been hit with a terrible reality check: This virus can devastate anyone. A March CDC report listed up to 20.8% of COVID-19 hospitalizations and 4.2% of ICU admissions were between the ages of 20 and 44. Those numbers are nothing to sneeze at. And of course, there’s the danger that anyone who’s infected can pose to people in higher-risk groups, sometimes even asymptomatically.

No, younger people aren’t immune to COVID-19, not by a longshot. In some cases, they have even greater dangers to avoid. And their social responsibility isn't lessened in any case. Regardless of age, it’s important to continue practicing social distancing. But it starts with realizing that no one is immune and more people than it first seemed are at high risk. COVID-19 doesn't discriminate and we need to act accordingly.

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