The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa

Despite some cases of severe or critical manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) described among children, the prevalence of this infection in the pediatric population is quite low worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Current data suggest indeed that, independent of the p...

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Main Authors: Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou, Nadia Christelle Noumedem Anangmo, Fernando Kemta Lekpa, Diomede Noukeu Njinkui, Dominique Enyama, Christian Ngongang Ouankou, Eric Vounsia Balti, Esther Astrid Mbono Samba Eloumba, Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh, Simeon Pierre Choukem
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4258414
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author Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou
Nadia Christelle Noumedem Anangmo
Fernando Kemta Lekpa
Diomede Noukeu Njinkui
Dominique Enyama
Christian Ngongang Ouankou
Eric Vounsia Balti
Esther Astrid Mbono Samba Eloumba
Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh
Simeon Pierre Choukem
author_facet Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou
Nadia Christelle Noumedem Anangmo
Fernando Kemta Lekpa
Diomede Noukeu Njinkui
Dominique Enyama
Christian Ngongang Ouankou
Eric Vounsia Balti
Esther Astrid Mbono Samba Eloumba
Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh
Simeon Pierre Choukem
author_sort Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou
collection DOAJ
description Despite some cases of severe or critical manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) described among children, the prevalence of this infection in the pediatric population is quite low worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Current data suggest indeed that, independent of the population considered overall, severe and critical cases of COVID-19 are rare among children. This observation prompted us to discuss the possible hypotheses which could explain the low prevalence of COVID-19 among children; amongst others, we discuss (1) immunomodulation by the Bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine or by some parasitic infections such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and helminthiasis and (2) cross immunization with other coronaviruses commonly found in the sub-Saharan African setting.
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publishDate 2021-01-01
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series Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
spelling doaj-art-1b34c74db0dd42ea89e92e49185e01e32025-08-20T02:02:20ZengWileyInterdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases1687-708X1687-70982021-01-01202110.1155/2021/42584144258414The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan AfricaSylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou0Nadia Christelle Noumedem Anangmo1Fernando Kemta Lekpa2Diomede Noukeu Njinkui3Dominique Enyama4Christian Ngongang Ouankou5Eric Vounsia Balti6Esther Astrid Mbono Samba Eloumba7Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh8Simeon Pierre Choukem9Department of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Microbiology, Haematology and Immunology, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, CameroonThe University of Dschang Taskforce for the Elimination of COVID-19 (UNITED#COVID-19), Dschang, CameroonThe University of Dschang Taskforce for the Elimination of COVID-19 (UNITED#COVID-19), Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, CameroonEndocrine and Diabetes Unit and National Obesity Centre, Department of Internal Medicine, Yaounde Central Hospital, Yaounde, CameroonThe University of Dschang Taskforce for the Elimination of COVID-19 (UNITED#COVID-19), Dschang, CameroonDepartment of Internal Medicine and Specialties, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, Dschang, CameroonDespite some cases of severe or critical manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) described among children, the prevalence of this infection in the pediatric population is quite low worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Current data suggest indeed that, independent of the population considered overall, severe and critical cases of COVID-19 are rare among children. This observation prompted us to discuss the possible hypotheses which could explain the low prevalence of COVID-19 among children; amongst others, we discuss (1) immunomodulation by the Bacillus Calmette–Guerin vaccine or by some parasitic infections such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and helminthiasis and (2) cross immunization with other coronaviruses commonly found in the sub-Saharan African setting.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4258414
spellingShingle Sylvain Raoul Simeni Njonnou
Nadia Christelle Noumedem Anangmo
Fernando Kemta Lekpa
Diomede Noukeu Njinkui
Dominique Enyama
Christian Ngongang Ouankou
Eric Vounsia Balti
Esther Astrid Mbono Samba Eloumba
Jean Roger Moulion Tapouh
Simeon Pierre Choukem
The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa
Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Infectious Diseases
title The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_fullStr The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_full_unstemmed The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_short The COVID-19 Prevalence among Children: Hypotheses for Low Infection Rate and Few Severe Forms among This Age Group in Sub-Saharan Africa
title_sort covid 19 prevalence among children hypotheses for low infection rate and few severe forms among this age group in sub saharan africa
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/4258414
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