- When children play outside in the park/schoolyard, they develop antibodies to potential pathogens that could aid in protection against COVID-19
- ACE2
     - Virus binds to ACE2 receptors on the cell membrane
     - Children have higher amounts of ACE in their bodies, which has the opposite effect of 
        ACE2 (less ACE2)
- Chronic illnesses are greater at old age, increasing the number of fatalities in adults with COVID-19 
- Children have healthy lung tissue, as they are less exposed to pollution and smoking


Reasons to why children are less likely to develop COVID-19

- More active in children
- Shrinks as we age
- Contains T cells and plasma cells
- Plasma cells produce immunoglobulin G, an antibody
- IgG3 and 1 provide immunity against some viral infections

Physiology of the thymus and children's ability to fight viral infections

Figure shows the death rate of people of different age ranges due to COVID-19.
- Green --> very low death rate
- Yellow --> low death rate
- Orange --> Slightly high death rate
- Red --> very high death rate

Michigan State University

Within the 99.6% of reported cases in the United States between February 12 and April 2 where age was known, 1.7% of cases were among children under the age of 18. From the available data, 73% of pediatric patients displayed the symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath. During that same period, 93% of adults 18-64 reported such symptoms. Myalgia, sore throat, headache, and diarrhea were also less commonly reported in pediatric patients.  Children under the age of 18 also had lowered rates of hospitalization (5.7% for children and 10% for adults in total of cases, and 20% for children and 33% for adults whose hospital status was known). 

Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children -- United States, February 12 - April 2, 2020

S. Rehman, T. Majeed, M. A. Ansari et al., Current scenario of COVID-19 in pediatric age group and physiology of immune and
thymus response, Saudi Journal of Biological Sciences, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sjbs.2020.05.024

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