Scientists have identified differences in immune responses against coronavirus in adults and children. The examination explains why children most often develop mild COVID-19. The research results are published in the journal Science Translational Medicine.
The study involved 60 adult patients and 65 children with COVID-19 hospitalized from March 13 to May 17, 2020. In the course of treatment, it became clear that adults more often need artificial ventilation, and their disease is more often fatal.
According to scientists, this difference is explained by the stronger innate immunity in children. They were characterized by high levels of specific cytokines (for example, IL-17A) that protect the body from the development of the deadly acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Scientists have also found that the patients’ severe condition is not caused by their inability to produce antibodies. On the contrary, it is the overreaction of the adaptive immunity that is responsible for the distress syndrome and deaths. Therefore, transfusion of antibody-rich plasma from recovering people can aggravate the condition of patients.
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