COVID-19 Pneumonia in Children: From Etiology to Management
Giuseppe Fabio Parisi1 
Cristiana Indolfi2 Fabio Decimo2 
Salvatore Leonardi1 Michele Miraglia del Giudice2*- 1Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
- 2Department of Woman, Child and Specialized Surgery, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, Naples, Italy
COVID-19 is less serious in children than in adults. However, respiratory management dominates the clinical picture of hospitalized COVID-19 even in children. In some case series, deterioration of the clinical picture wherein dyspnea, cyanosis, and the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) emerged ~8–10 days after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which could rapidly progress to multiple organ failure and death. This review aimed to evaluate the characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric populations, beginning from its etiology and pathological mechanisms and closing with its clinical management.
Introduction
At the close of December 2019, a new coronavirus originating from the Chinese city of Wuhan began to spread rapidly throughout the world (1). At the beginning of 2020, the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses denominated this new virus Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) (2). SARS-CoV-2 is the causative agent of the disease COVID-19, an abbreviation decided by the World Health Organization (WHO). In other words, SARS-CoV-2 is the etiologic agent, while COVID-19 is the disease (3).
The clinical spectrum of COVID-19 is wide, varying from completely asymptomatic forms to those characterized by severe respiratory distress requiring intensive care. SARS-CoV-2 causes acute viral infection of both the upper and lower respiratory tract, with an incubation period varying from 1 to 15 days (average: 3–7 days). The most common symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, cough, sore throat, headache, asthenia, diarrhea, and vomiting (4).
There is ample evidence in the literature that COVID-19 is less serious in children than in adults (5–10). Lu et al. found the main symptoms in 171 children with COVID-19 to be cough (48.5%), pharyngitis (46.2%), fever (41.5%), diarrhea (8.8%), and vomiting (6.4%); only 2.3% of cases experienced desaturation upon hospitalization, while 15.8% of cases were asymptomatic (9). Olfactory and gustatory anomalies characteristic of adult COVID-19 cases are rare in pediatric populations (11, 12).
The underlying cause of the lower incidence and pathogenicity of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children remains unclear at present. Although this lower incidence and morbidity was attributed to a reduced exposure and the presence of risk factors during the initial phase of the pandemic, it is now clear that biological factors that intervene in the pathogenesis of the infection and in the immune response may play a protective role in children against the more aggressive clinical manifestations seen in adults (13).
Respiratory management dominates the clinical picture of hospitalized COVID-19 patients. In some case series, deterioration of the clinical picture wherein dyspnea, cyanosis, and the onset of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) emerged approximately 8–10 days after the onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which could rapidly progress to multiple organ failure and death (14). In a pediatric series of children with COVID-19, 30.8% presented shortness of breath that required oxygen supplementation and 23.1% were transferred to intensive care unit (ICU) for organ dysfunction (15). In another case series of 41 children hospitalized for COVID-19, 11 of these presented lung lesions compatible with a picture of interstitial pneumonia (16). Furthermore, in one of the largest published pediatric series that studied 585 children with SARS-CoV2 infection, 8% required ICU admission and 4% needed mechanical ventilation (17).
Although the clinical picture in pediatric populations is more complex, the severity of infection can be clinically classified as follows: asymptomatic, mild, moderate, severe, or critical (18, 19) (Table 1). This classification makes the idea that even pediatric patients can experience severe manifestations of the pathology, which must be addressed as early as possible to limit disease progression.
Table 1. Classification of COVID-19 in children.
This review aimed to evaluate the characteristics of COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric populations, beginning from its etiology and pathological mechanisms and closing with its clinical management.
Methods
This review used PubMed and Science Direct to locate articles with at least an English abstract using the following keywords: (1) COVID-19 in children; (2) coronavirus in children; (3) COVID-19 pneumonia; (4) SARS-CoV-2 in children; (5) SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia; and (6) COVID-19 imaging. The abstracts of articles were reviewed to determine whether the article was appropriate for the topic. We also reviewed the references contained within the selected articles, and read the full articles that were deemed relevant.
Epidemiology
The SARS-CoV-2 virus is transmitted via droplets and through direct or indirect contact with infected objects (1). The time during which the virus remains active on surfaces remains unclear, but was found to be ~48–72 h on plastic and steel, and ~4–8 h on copper and cardboard (20). Cohabitation with symptomatic or asymptomatic patients is the main source of contagion for pediatric populations (21), but given the frequency of paucisymptomatic forms in pediatric populations, children are likely to be a frequent vector of infection for adults and the elderly. The positivity in reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) for SARS-CoV-2 in the stools of infants and children for several weeks, even after a negative nasopharyngeal swab (22), may indicate the stools could represent an additional means of transmission of the virus.
However, since growth of the virus in fecal culture—and therefore its viability on feces—has not been demonstrated, further research is needed to define a possible fecal–oral route of transmissibility of the virus. Similarly, maternal–fetal transmissibility of the virus has been explored since the beginning of the epidemic. A first report on nine women with COVID-19 in their third trimester of pregnancy confirmed the absence of SARS-CoV-2 in amniotic fluid, cord blood, and breast milk (23). More recently, the maternal–fetal transmission has been confirmed in three infants (transmission rate: 9%) born to a positive mother; one of these infants had onset of respiratory symptoms within 48 h of life (24). However, a larger retrospective cohort analysis involving 101 infants born to 100 SARS-CoV2 positive mothers did not show vertical transmission in any of these (25).
Pathogenesis of Lung Damage
When SARS-CoV-2 enters the airways of a newly infected person, the viral S protein (spike protein) binds with high affinity to the angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) cellular transmembrane receptor found on the apical membranes of respiratory epithelial cells, mainly type II pneumocytes. Subsequently, the ACE2 receptor and SARS-CoV-2 are transported inside the cell and the S protein is cleaved by the protease TMPRSS2, inducing the release of the viral RNA within the cell and thereby allowing its replication (Figure 1). The ACE2 receptor is subsequently cleaved by a tumor necrosis factor alpha converting enzyme (TACE or ADAM17), a metalloprotease that allows the release of the ACE2 ectodomain (defined as soluble ACE2) into the extracellular space. Soluble ACE2 is enzymatically active and appears to be capable of binding with SARS-CoV-2. This led to speculation that administration of recombinant human ACE2 may reduce inflammation secondary to the action of SARS-CoV-2 (26).
Figure 1. Graphic representation of the virus-host interaction and reasons why children are less affected. (1) Binding between SARS-CoV2 spike protein and ACE2 receptors; (2) transport of the ACE2 receptor/SARS-CoV 2 complex within the cell; (3) cleavage of the spike protein by the protease TMPRSS2; (4) release of viral RNA within the cell.
The immune response induced by SARS-CoV-2 infection is characterized by two phases: an initial immunoprotective phase and an activation phase of the cytokine storm, which yields a more severe clinical manifestation. In the first phase, a robust adaptive response can control the virus and block inflammatory progression. If the immune system fails to control this phase, cell damage in organs with high concentrations of ACE2, especially pneumocytes, progresses by the release of cytokines and chemokines (IL-6, IL-10, and interferon) and the recruitment of inflammatory cells, which mediate lung damage and progression toward ARDS (27). Xu et al. found evidence of diffuse alveolar damage with desquamation of pneumocytes, hyaline membrane formation, and the presence of fibromyxoid cells with interstitial lymphocyte infiltration during histopathological examination of a patient who died of COVID-19 (28). In fact, clinically speaking, SARS-CoV-2 causes interstitial pneumonia.
One of the possible complications of this “exaggerated” inflammation is Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome (PIMS) or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome of Children (MIS-C) which occurs when inflammation becomes generalized. This would appear to be a post-immunological reaction caused by non-neutralizing IgG antibody and worsened by a cytokine storm that causes generalized inflammation that resembles an atypical Kawasaki's disease or a toxic shock syndrome (29).
Why Are Children Less Affected?
Many explanations have been proposed for the fact that children appear to be less frequently affected and have milder manifestations of COVID-19; however, they remain assumptions given the lack of scientific evidence on the subject.
The immune response of children differs from that of adults, which progressively deteriorates with age such that preschoolers have a repertoire of immune cells 5–10 times larger than that of a 50-year-old, and 20 times larger than that of an 80-year-old. It remains to be seen to what degree this may play a role in mitigating the spread of the virus and in the cytokine signaling cascade triggered by SARS-CoV-2 as they relate to severe outcomes in adulthood (30).
A cross-reactivity between immune response to early childhood vaccines—especially MMR—and response to SARS-CoV-2 has also been proposed. However, no clear evidence has emerged to date to support this proposal, and paucisymptomatic cases are reported even in unvaccinated children. A large pediatric clinical series on 2,143 children reported a 5.9% rate of serious and critical cases—and only one death (31). Shekerdemian et al. reported a mortality rate of 4.2% in a cohort of 48 COVID-19-positive children admitted to the ICU, most of whom had previous comorbidities (disabling genetic diseases in 40% of cases) (32).
A second explanation for the tendency of children be less affected by SARS-CoV-2 relates to the ACE2 receptor which, as previously mentioned, binds the SARS-CoV-2 virus. In fact, the reduced maturity and functionality of ACE2 and its lower expression in the nasal epithelium in pediatric populations relative to adults could partly explain children's reduced susceptibility to COVID-19 (33, 34). However, studies do not unilaterally support this hypothesis. In fact, some evidence suggests that ACE2 expression in children is neither up- nor downregulated (35, 36). On the other hand, another study found that ACE2 is downregulated once the virus penetrates the cell and replicates, resulting in fewer receptors upon which the virus can act (37). In light of these data, the role of the expression levels of ACE2 in the pathogenesis of COVID-19-induced lung damage remains to be fully elucidated.
Chest Imaging
According to the American College of Radiology, pediatric radiologic imaging is recommended for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 with mild symptoms and pre-existing comorbidities, and for children with moderate to severe symptoms. Chest X-ray is the first choice exam; however, its lower sensitivity and specificity mean that pulmonary involvement cannot be excluded in patients with a laboratory-confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Unlike in adults, computed tomography (CT), is indicated in children in cases of suspicion of pulmonary embolism and clinical worsening (38).
Chest X-Ray
Pulmonary abnormalities on chest X-ray were found in 46–90% of cases (39, 40). The most common radiologic trends were peribronchial thickening, ground-glass opacities, consolidation, and pleural effusion (39). Lung findings were unilateral in 55% and bilateral in 45% of affected children, without any significant difference between the left and right lung, but with greater involvement of the lower lobes (40). Although these radiological abnormalities typically resolve during recovery from the disease, they have been reported to persist in ~16% of cases (39).
Chest Computed Tomography (CT)
The radiological anomalies evident on CT are certainly much more characterizing the disease, although these anomalies are less frequent and less specific than those described in adults (41). The most common findings are multifocal and peripherally located ground-glass appearance starting from the lower lobes, accompanied by thickening in the interlobular septa, prominent vascular structures, halo signs, and inverted halo signs. In severe cases, a striking paving appearance and fragmented consolidation are observed (40, 41).
Liu et al. described the radiological characteristics examined by high-resolution (HR)-CT of five children with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, three of whom were asymptomatic. These three patients had unilateral ground glass opacities, whereas only one child had bilaterally distributed opacity, and another had a negative report (42). Some radiological differences between children and adults were highlighted (43). Although the ground glass finding is characteristic and common in both adulthood and childhood, 44% of adult patients also had thickening of the interlobular septum, bronchial texture, a striking paving pattern, and—less frequently—halo signs, pleural or pericardial effusion, and lymphadenopathy (44).
In a group of 98 patients of varying ages (4–88 years) with COVID-19, the majority of lung lesions upon HR-CT were located in the right lower lobe of the lung, possibly due to the thinner and shorter structure of the lower lobe bronchus, especially in the peripheral area of the lung. However, children and adolescents had fewer lung lesions, predominantly unilateral involvement, and smaller clusters than adults, with no signs of air bronchogram (45). Zheng et al. also reported a higher incidence of respiratory impairment in children <3 years of age, with bilateral lung involvement in >70% of children in this age group (46). A report of eight patients aged <15 years admitted to intensive care found abnormalities on CT scans in all cases (six children with bilateral involvement, two with unilateral involvement). Moreover, two of the eight patients that originally had a worse prognosis also had higher expression of IL-6 and IL-10, further corroborating a relationship between the severity of the pulmonary picture and activation of the cytokine cascade (47).
Lung Ultrasound
Several studies report the usefulness of pulmonary ultrasound for the diagnosis and follow-up of COVID-19 pneumonia, given that it is a simple and repeatable investigation that does not expose the child to radiation or sedation. Musolino et al. reported the main ultrasound findings of 10 children with COVID-19 as follows: B lines (70%), pleural irregularities (60%), white lung (10%), and subpleural thickening (10%) (48, 49). According to Allinovi et al., lung ultrasound may support diagnosis and monitoring of COVID-19 pneumonia, as it reveals a typical pattern of diffuse interstitial lung syndrome and correlates with chest CT findings (50).
Management and Treatment of COVID-19 Pneumonia
Given the paucisymptomatic course characteristic of children diagnosed with COVID-19, the majority of cases only require supportive home therapy. Evidently, cases must be isolated, and they require an adequate intake of fluids and calories (51, 52). For the management of fever, paracetamol is recommended. Some authors have proposed a correlation between the use of ibuprofen and a more aggressive course of SARS-CoV-2 infection (53); however, these data were not confirmed. For patients already being treated with topical steroids (e.g., for allergic rhinitis or bronchial asthma), continuation of basic therapy is indicated. In case of need for inhalation treatment with steroids and bronchodilators, the use of pressurized metered-dose inhalers with spacer is recommended over nebulizers, which could increase infectivity due to their aerosolization of particles (54).
Hospitalization is indicated when there is a need to ensure supportive therapy (e.g., pharmacological or respiratory support) or in severe forms of pathology (13, 19, 55). Upon entering the ward, performing laboratory blood testing may prove useful, even though it is often non-specific. In most children it is possible to find: (i) a normal or reduced number of white blood cells, accompanied by lymphocytopenia; (ii) normal or slightly increased C-reactive protein and procalcitonin values (in case of excessive upregulation, a bacterial superinfection should be considered); (iii) slightly increased transaminases and lactic dehydrogenases (13, 19, 55).
Patients with chronic diseases should be subjected to greater attention because the presence of comorbidities seems to be associated with a greater risk of fatal evolution (56). In this sense, these patients should be monitored more frequently and subjected to earlier treatments.
General Support
Hospitalized children must have their vitals monitored and have adequate intake of fluids and calories aimed at maintaining a hydro-electrolytic homeostasis. Additionally, bed rest and maintenance of cleared upper airways are recommended (13, 19, 55).
Oxygen Therapy
In case of hypoxia (SpO2 <95%) without signs of respiratory distress, the administration of oxygen via nasal cannulae or mask is sufficient, while constant monitoring of vital parameters and attending to changes in the acid-base balance may be indicative of clinical worsening (13, 19, 55).
Ventilatory Support
In case of respiratory distress associated with hypoxemia, simple oxygen administration is insufficient. In these cases, high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO) or non-invasive ventilation, such as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), should be used (13, 19, 55). The utility of HFNO for COVID-19 treatment is the subject of debate given that the incontrovertible benefits afforded by this treatment are countered by the risk of viral particle aerosolisation within the patient's environment, thereby placing the safety of healthcare workers at risk (57). The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends that HFNO be used in single or negative pressure rooms “whenever possible.” This means that negative pressure room, while advantageous, are not essential (58). What is certainly essential, however, is the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) when entering patients' rooms (57).
A valid alternative to HFNO is CPAP—preferably helmet CPAP—with positive end-expiration pressure (PEEP) ranging from 5 to 10 cmH20 (59). In any case, the critically ill child should be transferred to a pediatric intensive care unit and, in the event of non-response to non-invasive ventilation or of onset of pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (PARDS), initiation of invasive mechanical ventilation should be considered and, ultimately, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) (19).
Pharmacological Treatment
There is little reliable evidence for the utility of drugs in treating COVID-19 pneumonia in pediatric populations, and any available data to date are based on observations in adult populations. For this reason, pharmacological therapy discouraged in milder COVID-19 forms, while recommended for more severe forms; such decisions should invariably be made on a case-by-case basis (13, 19, 51, 55, 60).
No specific anti-SARS-CoV-2 drug has yet been proven effective. Antiviral drug therapy seems to be effective if initiated before clinical deterioration. The drug most commonly used is interferon-alpha by nebulization, as it has shown effectiveness at reducing viral replication with consequent improvement of symptoms and reduction of the duration of the disease (21). Other possible pharmacological interventions include:
- Lopinavir/Ritonavir: A drug used in the treatment of HIV which appears to be effective in reducing viral replication as long as it is administered in the very early stages of the disease. Common side-effects include diarrhea and nausea, and it is contraindicated in cases of hepatic impairment (61).
- Ribavirin: A drug used in combination with interferon-alpha or Lopnavir/Ritonavir. Hemolytic anemia is a possible side-effect (19, 62).
- Remdesevir: A new-generation antiviral that has a potent antireplicative action against SARS-CoV-2 (63, 64).
- Hydroxychloroquine: A drug that, despite the initial enthusiasm surrounding its use for treatment of COVID-19, has not shown real efficacy according to the most recent scientific evidence (65). Table 2 summarizes the main antivirals, their formulations, and their respective dosages in pediatric patients.
Table 2. Summary of most common antivirals for COVID-19 in children.
Other drugs worth mentioning include:
- Antibiotics: Their use is discouraged unless there are signs of bacterial co-infection. The usefulness of macrolides, especially azithromycin, for their anti-inflammatory properties is also questionable (19, 52, 60, 66).
- Corticosteroids: Their routine use is discouraged; however, they should be considered in cases of PARDS, secondary haemophagocytic lymphoistiocytosis, septic shock, or concomitant asthma. In these cases, the administration of methylpredisolone at a dose of 1–2 mg/kg/day for a maximum of 4–5 days is recommended (19, 52, 60).
- Gamma globulins: Their effectiveness is not clear. They can be attempted in particularly severe forms of COVID-19 and in those with symptoms similar to Kawasaki disease at the dose of 2 g/kg/day for one day, 1 g/kg/day for two days or 400 mg/kg/day for five days (67, 68).
- Tocilizumab: This human anti-IL-6 monoclonal antibody appeared to be effective in the treatment in adults with extensive and bilateral lung involvement (60). However, recently its effectiveness has been greatly diminished to the extent that it appears not effective for preventing intubation or death in moderately ill hospitalized patients with COVID-19 (69). For this reason, it should be used cautiously in children: 12 mg/kg in children weighing <30 kg, 8 mg/kg (max: 800 mg) in children >30 kg, to repeat once after 12 h if no improvement (60, 70).
Conclusion
This review summarizes the characteristics of COVID-19 in pediatric populations, with a focus on pulmonary involvement. Although clinical picture of COVID-19 in children is much less severe than in adults, progression of the disease remains possible and must, therefore, be intercepted with appropriate therapy. It should also be emphasized that children, although paucisymptomatic, are important vectors of the disease.
Author Contributions
MM developed the original idea and made the final revision. GP wrote the manuscript. CI and FD revised the manuscript and contributed to the English revision and compilation of references. SL made the final analysis and critical revision of the manuscript. All authors contributed to the article and approved the submitted version.
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
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Keywords: COVID-19, children, pneumonia, SARS-CoV2, treatment
Citation: Parisi GF, Indolfi C, Decimo F, Leonardi S and Miraglia del Giudice M (2020) COVID-19 Pneumonia in Children: From Etiology to Management. Front. Pediatr. 8:616622. doi: 10.3389/fped.2020.616622
Received: 12 October 2020; Accepted: 27 November 2020;
Published: 14 December 2020.
Edited by:
Hong-Ren Yu, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, TaiwanReviewed by:
Chung-Ming Chen, Taipei Medical University, TaiwanHaiLun Sun, Chung Shan Medical University Hospital, Taiwan
Copyright © 2020 Parisi, Indolfi, Decimo, Leonardi and Miraglia del Giudice. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
*Correspondence: Michele Miraglia del Giudice, michele.miragliadelgiudice@unicampania.it