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Why kids rarely fall sick with COVID-19 revealed in new research

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Author: 
Satherley, Dan
Format: 
Article
Publication Date: 
12 Jun 2020

Excerpted from article

Doctors are starting to think children don't appear to be as affected by COVID-19 as adults are thanks to their healthy blood vessels.

Children are less likely than adults to show symptoms of having the mysterious illness, and when they do fall sick, are far less likely to die. 

Most viral illnesses affect the young and elderly the most, but COVID-19 overwhelmingly targets the elderly - just why it leaves children mostly alone has been a mystery until now.

Researchers in Switzerland think it could be their blood vessels, which haven't been ravaged by time.

SARS-CoV-2, the virus which causes COVID-19, can infect endothelial cells, the scientists found. Endothelium lines blood vessels and prevents clotting.

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