The coronavirus spares most kids. These theories may help explain why.
Experts weigh in on the biological reasons children could be better protected from severe cases of COVID-19.
Across geographies, genders, and occupations, the new coronavirus is an indiscriminate infector. COVID-19 appears to plague people ubiquitously—including children who, despite hopeful early reports, do not seem more immune to the virus. The latest figures from China, where the outbreak began last year, suggest that those under the age of 18 may contract the pathogen at comparable rates to adults.
But a mysterious semblance of mercy remains: After being infected, kids seem less likely to fall seriously ill, with more than 90 percent of pediatric cases presenting as moderate, mild, or without symptoms entirely. This youthful resilience has been seen in infectious diseases before, such as chickenpox.
At this point, individuals with notable symptoms make up the bulk
