ABSTRACT
Despite some cases of severe or critical manifestations of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) described among children, the prevalence of this infection in the pediatric population is quite low worldwide, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Current data suggest indeed that, independent of the population considered overall, severe and critical cases of COVID-19 are rare among children. This observation prompted us to discuss the possible hypotheses which could explain the low prevalence of COVID-19 among children; amongst others, we discuss (1) immunomodulation by the Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccine or by some parasitic infections such as malaria, schistosomiasis, and helminthiasis and (2) cross immunization with other coronaviruses commonly found in the sub-Saharan African setting.
ABSTRACT
Confirmation of COVID-19 infection is still challenging in Cameroon due to lack of sufficient RT-PCR tests and screening capacity. International organizations as well as philanthropic donators initially provided these tests. Due to limited kits availability, mass screening is currently a luxury that the country cannot afford. This impacts on estimates of disease prevalence, on the understanding of its burden and delays the implementation of targeted preventive measures. Besides RT-PCR, chest CT-scan could be a useful tool for screening purposes. However, its sensitivity and cost make its integration in management algorithms difficult. We discuss below the challenges and potential solutions that could ease the diagnosis of COVID-19 infection in Cameroon
