June 25, 2020

expert reaction to study looking at a Europe-wide study of children with COVID-19

A study, published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health, looked at children with COVID-19 across Europe.

Prof Keith Neal, Emeritus Professor of the Epidemiology of Infectious Diseases, University of Nottingham, said:

“This study collected data from a well-established European network covering 82 centres in 25 countries.  582 children under 18 were included.

“The study confirms that COVID-19 is generally a mild disease in children although some do require intensive care. Death is rare. Pre-existing cancer and heart or lung disease was associated with more severe disease. No child under 10 died. 

“Only slightly more boys were admitted than girls in contrast to what is seen in adults.

“This study only included children ill enough to warrant admission to hospital.

“This study confirms other works that COVID-19 is usually a mild illness in children especially where there are no underlying serious health issues.

‘COVID-19 in children and adolescents in Europe: a multinational, multicentre cohort study’ by Götzinger  et al was published in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health at 23:30 UK Time Thursday 25^th June 2020.

All our previous output on this subject can be seen at this weblink: www.sciencemediacentre.org/tag/covid-19

Declared interests

None others received.