Coronavirus: asthmatic children not at increased risk during first wave of pandemic, UAE research shows

Doctors in Abu Dhabi monitored about 300 children in April and March last year finding majority showed only mild flu-like symptoms

Kaashvi goes around with her father with a face mask on in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National

UAE residents wear face masks as part of safety measures to combat Covid-19. Victor Besa / The National

Children's face masks for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National 

Children's face masks and face sheilds for sale at LC Waikiki shop in Al Wahda Mall, Abu Dhabi. Victor Besa /The National

The "new norm" of Covid-19 precautionary measures at Umm Al Emarat Park, Abu Dhabi, on a Monday afternoon. It is a common sight to see children wearing face masks riding their bikes or scooters at the park. Victor Besa/The National

Abu Dhabi residents wearing masks exercise along Abu Dhabi Corniche. Victor Besa / The National

Pedestrians crossing the street wearing face masks at downtown Abu Dhabi on an early Friday evening. Victor Besa /The National

Children with asthma were not at a greater risk of developing severe disease if they got infected with Covid-19 during the first wave of the pandemic, UAE research showed.

Researchers monitored aout 300 children for three months after they had contracted what was most likely the original strain of coronavirus and found they rarely developed more severe symptoms than their non-asthmatic counterparts.

The study was carried out between March and April in 2020 and the results were published in January this year.

Doctors studied newborn infants to 16-year-olds who lived in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.

"The results were conclusive, showing the majority of children were either asymptomatic or had minor symptoms regardless of whether they had asthma or not," said Dr Ahmed Elghoudi, lead researcher and consultant paediatrician at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City in Abu Dhabi.

“At the beginning of the pandemic, we thought that children would be more affected by Covid-19 than adults, especially children with asthma.

“This has since proven to be wrong. Out of all the cases we observed, only three children required oxygen through the nose.”

The majority developed a low-grade fever, a slight cough and a runny nose.

Of the 139 who displayed symptoms, 93 had a cough, 14 had a low-grade fever and 28 had an inflammation in the lungs.

Only three needed oxygen and one was sent to hospital.

The rest remained asymptomatic.

None developed acute breathing problems that required ICU admission.

Of the cohort, 37 children had asthma and only three of them had their asthma symptoms slightly exaggerated.

“We didn’t have any child develop acute respiratory syndrome like in adults. The story is completely different in children and there are some hypotheses as to why they do not develop severe disease like adults,” Dr Elghoudi said.

“We believe that the immune systems of children probably deal with the virus better than adult [immune systems do].”

The researchers also believe children are likely to fight the infection better because they are more prone to getting infected with the common cold.

“Children normally get the common cold four to five times a year. Their respiratory tract may have viruses or bacteria and the Covid-19 virus may not get a chance to attach to the respiratory tract,” Dr Elghoudi said.

However, children with underlying health conditions such as cerebral palsy and heart disease were more likely to suffer, he said.

“None of the children [we monitored] had underlying health issues. Only one had severe immune deficiency and was in the hospital for five to six months prior to being infected with Covid-19. But she was treated with regular medication at the hospital and was sent home,” Dr Elghoudi said.

He said children under five were the most affected.

“They were the largest age group that caught the disease and we can’t confirm the rationale. Maybe it is because they are close to their parents or share their bedrooms – we can’t confirm yet,” he said.

“We saw fewer cases in children aged 14 and above.”

Latest research shows that children are not immune to the Covid-19 virus but most fare well. The results of the Abu Dhabi study were based on infections when the newer variants were not yet common.

Dr Elghoudi's Covid-19 research paper is one of more than 250 sent to the Abu Dhabi Department of Health since the start of the pandemic.

Papers on transmission of the virus, latest diagnostic methods, the epidemiology of the disease, treatment methods and the management of new drugs that are being tested are continuously submitted to the DoH.

The DoH launched the Covid-19 Registry in June 2020 to support all research work.

The Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre also provides logistical and financial support to researchers and results are used in policy making.

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