The Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 (HEROS) study also finds that children aged 12 or younger are just as likely to be infected with the virus as adolescents and adults, but confirms that the majority of infections in children, i.e. 75% are asymptomatic vs 59% in adolescents and 38% in adults. Finally, the study provides another confirmation, that of high transmission of SARS-CoV-2 within households with children… The viral load range in infected children is comparable to that of adolescents and adults. Young children may therefore well be very effective transmitters of SARS-CoV-2 within the family. The researchers are therefore again asking the much-debated question of their vaccination…:
“These data show the importance of vaccinating children and implementing other public health measures to prevent them from becoming infected with SARS-CoV-2, with the goal of protecting both children and their most vulnerable loved ones against the virus”. At least, this is the position of Dr. Anthony S. Fauci, director of NIAID, a position that still gives rise to debate.
Allergy reduces virus cell receptors
This is the brand new conclusion of the HEROS study which monitored the incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in more than 4,000 participants belonging to nearly 1,400 households including at least one person aged 21. years or less. The study was conducted in 12 cities in the United States, between May 2020 and February 2021, before the widespread deployment of the COVID-19 vaccination and before the emergence of worrying variants. About half of the participating children, adolescents and adults suffered from food allergies, asthma, eczema or allergic rhinitis. Nasal swabs were taken every 2 weeks and if a household member developed COVID-19-like symptoms, further testing was done. Blood samples were also taken periodically, especially when cases occurred within a family. The analysis reveals that:
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having a self-reported and/or diagnosed food allergy is associated with a 50% reduction in risk of infection
– self-reported food allergies were verified by analysis of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibody levels;
- on the other hand, such an association is not found in cases of asthma or other allergic conditions such as eczema and allergic rhinitis.
What process? Scientists hypothesize that the type 2 inflammation, characteristic of these allergic conditions, could reduce the levels of the ACE2 receptor present on the surface of cells in the airways and used by the SARS-CoV-2 virus to enter the airways. cells. In addition, differences in behavior among people with food allergies, such as going to restaurants less often, could also explain part of the reduction in the risk of infection. Bi-weekly assessments find that families with food allergic member(s) do indeed have lower levels of community contact/exposure, but only slightly than other households.
The BMI marker of risk such as obesity: numerous studies have documented obesity as a major factor in severe form of COVID-19. The HEROS study reveals a strong linear relationship between BMI and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection:
- every 10 point increase in BMI increases the risk of infection by 9%;
- we also find the impact of obesity: participants who are overweight or obese have a 41% increased risk of infection – and not of complications or severe form.