NIH begins study on coronavirus spread among children

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) released a statement on Monday related to its new study. The NIH said that it was going to begin a study on children related to the coronavirus spread among them. The study aims to find the reasons behind the development of the coronavirus symptoms in few children only.

According to the NIH officials, they will find the percentage of infected children who develop coronavirus symptoms in this study. They will also find the infection rate among the children having pre-existing health conditions, including asthma and other allergic conditions, and among the children who do not have these issues.

According to the NIH officials, they will examine 6000 people from 2000 families for six months during this study. They will take children both children with asthma and allergies, and healthy children. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases of the NIH, said, “The study will answer some key questions related to the spread of the coronavirus among families.”

According to the recent stats, only a few children developed coronavirus symptoms as compared to the adults so far. The medical officials have several questions related to it. Are children more resistant to the coronavirus infection? Do they become infected, but do not develop COVID-19 symptoms? The NIH officials will find the answers to these questions in this study, according to Dr. Fauci.

US medical officials need to find the answers to these questions before the reopening of the schools. The medical officials have shown concerns about it. They think that children may carry COVID-19 with them without developing the symptoms. It can spread the virus quickly in many families when the schools are opened. In this study, the participants will mail a nasal swab of children and their caregivers every two weeks. The study is important before the opening of schools this fall.