ABOUT COVID 19
Please visit our charity website to learn more about COVID-19
SOMETHING ABOUT COVID 19 GUIDANCE
A lot of guidance has been issued on COVID19. However caution is needed in interpretation of these.
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First it is really important to look at the date of issuance of any guidance. Older guidance is based on intelligent guess work by a panel of experts which was correct for the time and date it was issued. With more available information newer latest guidance is based on our experiences of the pandemic. Information from middle of 2020 has considerably changed now in 2021.
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If you wish to find out more specific information about aspects of COVID-19 I will recommend to focus on reports and information based on actual studies rather than simple 'expert views'.
The simplest option otherwise is to simply refer to the GOV.UK guidance which will be the latest and is regularly updated.
COVID 19 AND PAEDIATRICS
Although Coronavirus can affect all ages children and teens appear to be relatively spared. Mortality increases with age and other co-morbidities.
For a virus to cause damage, it needs to be able to bind to a cell and enter. The virus has a surface protein spike S mediating its entry into human cells. It uses the ACE2 as a receptor for entry. ACE2 receptors are present in lungs (type II pneumocytes) and intestines (enterocytes), hence infection at these two prime sites.
The virus needs enzymes (proteolytic systems) for the processing of protein S (spike) and gaining entry. TMPRSS2 and Cathepsin inside a cell help these mechanisms.
We believe these systems are different in children hence the coronavirus doesn’t affect children and teens as much as it affects the elderly.
COVID 19 AND PAEDIATRIC INFLAMMATORY BOWEL DISEASE / IMMUNOSUPPRESSION
We have seen 6 cases of children with inflammatory bowel disease who have been on dual immunosuppression and contracted COVID-19.
The symptoms have ranged for very mild snuffles to cold like symptoms.
KICKING CORONAVIRUS
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Please follow the latest advice and guidance on GOV.UK - these continue to change and are regularly updated - what applied 2 weeks ago doesnt apply now
