Why kids react differently to the coronavirus, with Dr. Rupeena Purewal
Dr. Rupeena Purewal (MD) says when the coronavirus infects children, their bodies react differently than those of adults.
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Purewal is a pediatric infectious disease physician and the principal investigator for the only Saskatchewan-based clinical trials of human convalescent plasma — on children.
So far, there aren't many Saskatchewan children with COVID-19 in hospital, but in the prairie provinces, infection rates are rising. So too, is the risk of other serious respiratory infections such as influenza.
“We are in the second wave,” said Purewal. “I anticipate that we will see a different spectrum of disease.”
Purewal notes that in children, the SARS-CoV2 co-receptor expresses itself differently. Often, she says children’s symptoms appear less frequently than those in adults, while children tend to be more prone to gastrointestinal problems and inflammation.
And, as she learns more about the coronavirus' asymptomatic spread, Purewal warns parents they cannot afford to keep skipping routine vaccinations or check-ups for their kids.
“Really, what it comes down to is having normal, good overall health,” said Purewal. “Our outcomes will be better with children, even with COVID-19, if they are baseline healthy."
Purewal wants to better understand this disease, which still has relatively few effective treatments. As patients in Saskatchewan and across Canada enrol in the study, she hopes this project leads to scientific breakthroughs, that expand treatment options.