Quote:
Originally Posted by solidgold
Also seems to indicate the virus settles in a different place, at least for this cohort, in the young kids. Being in the upper respiratory (nose) makes it more spreadable via snot (which little kids love) and regular ol' breathing. So, they'd be the ones who really need to be wearing masks--good luck there! (But it could be done...)
I've got a boy entering kindergarten and a 3yo girl. Also work with kids who have developmental disabilities in the same age range. Fairly interested in how this plays out.
Potential good news, is that what was studied is "viral nucleic acid, rather than infectious virus"--likely contributes to the explanation for better outcomes, on the whole, for those under 5. Some sort of protection factor present that reduces chance of 'full' infection, but keeps them as a vector for transmission. Cross-immunity from more recent infection with other coronaviruses?
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I wonder if the factors that contribute to small children being hyper-resilient to disease contributes to this. I can't remember the course, but kids essentially have heightened abilities to fight off disease, but when they no longer can they will just "crash" or fall off that cliff. Adults are a much more gradual decline when responding to disease states.