Minority Youth at Higher Risk for COVID-19, New Study Claims

The national cooperative effort PEDSnet data makes it possible to gather electronic health records and data-sharing to advance knowledge on rare illnesses without taking years. 

Because of such efforts, researchers can progress COVID-19 research. Now, an analysis of over 135,000 medical records showed a significant disparity among a certain age group and ethnicity.

According to the health records gathered through PEDSnet, coronavirus hits hardest among teenagers of color and a significant portion among younger children.

Those at higher risk of COVID-19 include Black, Latin, and Asian groups, Science Daily reported. Furthermore, the presence of cancer, diabetes, and other chronic illnesses makes even more significant vulnerabilities.

COVID-19 Infections High Among These Children, Reasons Unclear

Further research is necessary to determine the cause of the disparity. Apparently, minority youth have lesser opportunities for COVID-19 testing.

It should be noted that kids of color are less likely to die from COVID-19. However, minority youth were twice more likely to test positive.

Among those who tested positive, hospitalization and mechanical ventilation were present in only 10 percent of the cases, around 500 children. Still, nearly 30 percent of the COVID-19 positive children required intensive care.

What May be Causing the COVID-19 Risk Disparities?

Researchers further their studies to determine why the COVID-19 risks are higher for this group. Some determining factors could include exposure to air pollution, exposure to people with in-person jobs, and housing density.

Previously, research showed disproportionate death rates among adults of color, too, Washington Post reported. Hispanic, Black and American Indian children are at higher risk of COVID-19 than their White peers.

There are twice more cases of coronavirus infections among people of color under the age of 65 compared to White Americans. Furthermore, such deaths are considered excess deaths because of the lack of diagnosis of the virus.

ALSO READ: African-American Infant Mortality Rates Are Twice As High Compared To Other Races

COVID-19 Death Toll Low Among These Children

On a more hopeful note, the number of deaths among those who tested positive was kept low. For about hundreds of thousands of children infected with the novel coronavirus, 121 are killed due to the disease.

Are They Really More Susceptible to Diseases?

Previous to the new findings, it was already known that some diseases have a more severe effect on certain races. For instance, there are more cases of pneumococcal meningitis among Black children than other races. In the same vein, Native Americans are more prone to Haemophilus influenza type b.

ALSO READ: Pediatric Cases of COVID-19 Reaches 11.1%, Health Experts Continue to Warn Parents

COVID 19 Triggers This Disease Among Youth of Color

Moshe Arditi, MD, and professor of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Division, found a multisystem inflammatory syndrome affecting most youth of color.

Such illness is noted as Kawasaki disease. Over 50 percent of the children who suffer from multisystem inflammatory syndrome trace to African ancestry. They are more likely to develop conjunctivitis, myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle, and rashes.

It is believed that COVID-19 triggers such illnesses. Further, the novel coronavirus is believed to lead to delayed hyper-inflammation in the youth of color.