Why children avoid the worst coronavirus complications might lie in their arteries

Why children avoid the worst coronavirus complications might lie in their arteries



Children account for fewer than 2% of confirmed COVID-19 infections in the United States. (Jaime Reina/AFP/Getty)

Healthy arteries could protect kids

Researchers have proposed a new theory for why children avoid the worst complications of the new coronavirus, such as excessive blood clotting that leads to heart attacks and stroke. Such complications are linked to malfunction in the cells that line blood vessels, called the endothelium. Scientists have found that SARS-CoV-2 can infect endothelial cells. They posit that because endothelial cells deteriorate with age, children’s vessels might be able to cope with a viral attack better than many adults’ can.
Nature | 4 min