Tina Plankar Srovin
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Tanja Avramoska
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Natalija Bahovec
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Simona Bizjak Vojinovič
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Aida Granda
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Liza Lea Lah
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Tatjana Mrvič
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Veronika Osterman
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Petra Prunk
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Mojca Rožič
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Urška Šivic
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Katarina Vincek
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Breda Zakotnik
Klinika za infekcijske bolezni in vročinska stanja Ljubljana, Univerzitetni klinični center Ljubljana, Japljeva 2, Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Coronaviruses generally cause a mild respiratory tract infection. In the last two decades, three types of coronavirus have spread from animal reservoirs to humans causing severe diseases with a high mortality rate. The outbreak of new coronavirus disease − COVID-19, which is caused by SARS-CoV-2, began in China and spread worldwide in less than 3 months. Main routes of viral transmission are via droplets and contact with soiled surfaces and fomites. The incubation period is estimated to be 4−6 days. Most children have mild disease with nonspecific symptoms and signs of upper respiratory tract infection, in a smaller proportion, gastrointestinal symptoms are present. The most common encountered symptoms are fever and cough. The disease course is mostly self-limiting with neventful recovery in 1−2 weeks. Severe disease is rare (up to 6 %). From late April we are witnessing emerging reports of children with a severe inflammatory disease resembling Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Pathogenesis of this syndrome is not yet well understood; the severe inflammatory response might be caused by activation of the immune system by superantigen induced by the virus. Currently, there is no specific treatment for COVID-19. A few vaccines are in the pipeline, which might help not only in controlling and limiting the current epidemic but eventually preventing similar epidemics in the future.

Key words: COVID-19, children, pandemic, therapy, vaccines, preventive measures