children and coronavirus Archives - Amazing Health Advances

Genetic Mutations Predispose Individuals to Severe COVID-19

AHA Publisher — Mon, 27 Jul 2020 07:00:16 +0000

Rabound University Medical Center via EurekAlert – Current observations suggest that the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 causes severe symptoms mainly in elderly patients with chronic disease. However when two pairs of previously healthy young brothers from two families required mechanical ventilation at the intensive care unit in rapid succession, doctors and researchers at Radboud University Medical Center were inclined to consider that genetic factors had a key role in compromising their immune system. Their research identified the gene TLR7 as an essential player in the immune response against SARS-CoV-2. A finding with potentially major consequences for understanding and possibly treatment of COVID-19. During the wave of COVID-19 patients that flooded Dutch hospitals in the first half of 2020, two young brothers became seriously ill with the SARS-CoV-2 virus and had to be mechanically ventilated in the ICU. One of them died from the consequences of the infection, the other recovered. The severe course of disease in otherwise healthy young brothers was a relatively rare occurrence, especially because the virus mainly affects the elderly. This observation triggered the curiosity of an attentive physician from the MUMC+ department of clinical genetics. She contacted her colleagues in Nijmegen who then investigated why these two young brothers were so severely affected. Genetic Factors “In such a case, you immediately wonder whether genetic factors could play a role,” says geneticist Alexander Hoischen. “Getting sick from an infection is always an interplay between – in this case – the virus and the human immune system. It may be a mere coincidence that two brothers from the same family become so severely ill. But it is also possible that an inborn error of the immune system has played an important role. We investigated this possibility, together with our multidisciplinary team at Radboudumc.” One X-Chromosome All genes (collectively called the exome) of both brothers were sequenced, after which the investigators combed through the data searching for a possible shared cause. Cas van der Made, PhD student and resident at the department of Internal Medicine: “We mainly looked at genes that play a role in the immune system. We know that several of these genes are located on the X-chromosome, and with two brother pairs affected X-chromosomal genes were most suspicious. Women carry two X-chromosomes, while men possess a Y-chromosome apart from the X. Therefore, men have only one copy of the X-chromosomal genes. In case men have a defect in such a gene, there is no second gene that can take over that role, as in women.” Gene Identification That search quickly revealed mutations in the gene encoding for the Toll-like receptor 7, TLR7 for short. There are multiple TLR-genes, which belong to a family of receptors with an important role in the recognition of pathogens (such as bacteria and viruses) and the activation of the immune system. Hoischen: “A few letters were missing in the genetic code of the TLR7 gene. As a result, the code cannot be read properly and hardly any TLR7 protein is produced. TLR7 function has so far never been associated with an inborn error of immunity. But unexpectedly we now have an indication that TLR7 is essential for protection from this coronavirus. So it seems that the virus can replicate undisturbed because the immune system does not get a message that the virus has invaded. Because TLR7, which must identify the intruder and subsequently activate the defense, is hardly present. That could be the reason for the severity of the disease in these brothers.” Additional Confirmation Then, quite unexpectedly, the doctors and researchers at Radboudumc come across another pair of brothers who have fallen seriously ill with COVID-19. Again, they are both under 35 years of age. Both of them were also in the ICU for mechanical ventilation. “Then the question of the role of genetics became even more obvious.” says Hoischen. “We also investigated the genetic code of these two brothers, again via the ‘rapid-clinical exome’ method. This time we saw no deletion, no loss of letters, but a single spelling mistake of one DNA-letter of the TRL7 gene. The effect on the gene is the same, however, because these brothers also do not make sufficient functional TLR7 protein. Suddenly we had four young people with a defect in the same gene, all of whom had fallen seriously ill from the SARS-CoV-2 virus.” Essential Role in the Defense Van der Made and colleagues have investigated the consequences of improper functioning of the TLR7 receptor. “Once activated, TLR7 triggers the production of so-called interferons, signaling proteins that are essential in the defense against virus infections,” says van der Made. “This immune response is perhaps all the more important in the fight against the SARS-CoV-2 virus, because we know from the literature that the virus has tricks to reduce the production of interferons by immune cells. When we mimic an infection with the coronavirus, we see that immune cells of the patients without properly functioning TLR7 hardly respond, and that minimal amounts of interferons are produced. These tests make it clear that the virus appears to have free rein in people without properly functioning TLR7 because it [the virus] is not recognized by the immune system.” Consequences “Due to the serious illness of four brothers in two families, so serious that it cost one of the young men his life, we have discovered this condition,” says Hoischen. “It seems to be a very specific abnormality, an immunodeficiency, which is mainly related to this coronavirus. None of the four men have previously suffered from immune-related diseases. It is the first time that we can connect a clinical phenomenon so strongly with TLR7.” “This discovery not only provides us with more insight into the fundamental workings of the immune system, but it may also have important consequences for the treatment of severely ill COVID-19 patients,” says Frank van de Veerdonk, immunologist and infectiologist. “The substance interferon can be given as a therapy. It is currently being investigated whether administering interferon in COVID-19 can indeed help.” To read the original article click here.

The post Genetic Mutations Predispose Individuals to Severe COVID-19 appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.

Children and COVID-19 Risk (Coronavirus)

AHA Publisher — Thu, 02 Apr 2020 07:00:03 +0000

Dr. Don Colbert – Are you concerned about children and COVID-19 risk? Are they infected as much as adults? What are their symptoms? What protects them? What increases their risk? Based on the most recent data from studies from China and around the world, we have some answers and recommendations. Here’s the most current information on children and COVID-19 risk. Children and COVID-19 Risk (Coronavirus) Recent Studies from China: Infection Rates Among Children One study from China focused on the infection rate of children versus adults. These researchers looked at 391 people with confirmed COVID-19 and 1,286 individuals who were in close contact with those with confirmed cases. The individuals in close contact were tested to see who contracted the virus and who did not. The researchers found that 7.4% of children under age 10 who were in close contact with confirmed COVID-19 patients contracted the virus. This infection rate was similar to adults, whose rate was 7.9% in this study. The researchers concluded that the infection rate is similar even if the rate of severe symptoms is much different (1). Rate of Severe Symptoms and Disease Another group of scientists studied 2143 pediatrics cases of COVID-19 from the China Center of Disease Control and Prevention. The cases broke down as follows: 731 were confirmed to have COVID-19 from laboratory tests 1412 were confirmed via symptoms, x-rays, etc. the median age of all patients was 7 years (range: 2-13 years old) 1213 cases (56.6%) were boys and 930 were girls (43.4%) Overall, only a small percentage of kids had severe cases (about 10% vs. an estimated 20% of all adult cases). The severe risk breakdown was: 10.6% of infants less than a year experienced severe symptoms or critical disease 7.3% of ages 1 to 5 had severe symptoms or critical disease 4.2% for 6-to-10-year-olds 4.1% for 11-to-15-year-olds 3% for those 16 and older One child died, age 14 What do these numbers tell us? While this is a limited data set, the numbers do give us some insight. Based on this data, there was not a significant difference in the infection of girls vs. boys. Many of the kids with confirmed cases were completely asymptomatic, but risk of severe disease was great among infants. The researchers also noted that the most severe symptoms occurred early in the disease. Most children experienced the majority of symptoms from illness onset to diagnosis (average of 2 days). Then, it became a more steady, mild disease that tapered off in symptoms (2). Information from the United States Centers of Disease Control According to our CDC guidelines, children do not appear to be at a higher risk than adults, unlike other viruses such as influenza. So far, adults make up the majority of known cases. Children should take the same precautions as adults to reduce risk of contracting and spreading the virus. You can find more at cdc.gov. Highest Risk Factors for Children and COVID-19 Like adults, kids with pre-existing conditions such as asthma, lung or heart disease, diabetes, and immunocompromising conditions are at higher risk than those without these conditions. In addition, children often have a more difficult time restraining from touching their faces than adults. To reduce the risk for children: Practice the same tips as those outlined here (Dr. Colbert’s Keys to Avoid COVID-19) Keep children home from school and activities Practice social distancing when they are outside of the home Encourage exercise and activity within your home or outside (away from others) Encourage frequent handwashing, even more than adults, as they may touch their facing more If your child is an infant or has pre-existing conditions, be even more diligent with hand washing and in keeping them away from others outside the family, whether they display symptoms or not. Call a doctor is your child becomes symptomatic, such as: Any difficulty breathing. This can display as rapid or forceful breathing, pale or bluish skin color, trouble nursing or taking a bottle, etc. A fever, especially one that does not respond to medicine Unusually fatigue or lethargy Trouble hydrating or refusal to eat or drink If possible, call your doctor or hospital before coming into an office to reduce the risk to your own child and others. Bottom Line According to the data we have available, children may contract the COVID virus at a similar rate as adults, but often display no symptoms or mild symptoms. However, infants and those with pre-existing conditions are still at a higher risk. It’s important for children, like adults, to practice strategies of social distancing, handwashing or hand-sanitizer use, and disease prevention. To read the original article click here. For more articles from Dr. Colbert click here.

The post Children and COVID-19 Risk (Coronavirus) appeared first on Amazing Health Advances.