Covid-19 and cardiac involvement in childhood: state of the art

J Biol Regul Homeost Agents. 2020 Jul-Aug;34(4 Suppl. 2):121-125. SPECIAL ISSUE: FOCUS ON PEDIATRIC CARDIOLOGY.

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), was first described in a cluster of patients in Wuhan, China, in December of 2019. Over the past few months, COVID-19 has rapidly spread worldwide becoming the first pandemic of the 21st century. COVID-19 results in mild symptoms in most infected children but can cause acute cardiac injury and death. In comparison to younger children, teenagers and infants are at higher risk for morbidity and mortality, with particular risk factors including pre-existing conditions like cardiovascular disease. Since this is an emerging infectious disease, there are limited data about the effects of this infection on patients especially in the pediatric population. We summarize here with the data on cardiovascular involvement in children and adolescents.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus disease 2019; SARS-CoV-2; acute cardiac injury; cardiovascular disease; children.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Betacoronavirus
  • COVID-19
  • Child
  • Coronavirus Infections / complications*
  • Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Heart Diseases / virology*
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Pandemics
  • Pneumonia, Viral / complications*
  • Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology
  • Risk Factors
  • SARS-CoV-2