COVID-19 and the gastrointestinal tract in children.

Abstract

This is an overview of the effects of COVID-19 in the gastrointestinal tract in children, and current evidence of the impact of COVID-19 in pediatric patients with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), chronic liver disease, and disorders of the gut-brain interaction. Children with COVID-19 have a milder course and more favorable outcomes than adults, even in those with immunosuppression due to IBD or liver transplantation. Children with chronic gastrointestinal conditions do not have worse clinical outcomes than healthy children and infection itself has not been linked to an increased incidence of conditions such as IBD and celiac disease, but results regarding post-infectious irritable bowel syndrome are mixed. Research specific to pediatrics is needed, particularly in post-infectious disorders of the gut-brain interaction (PI-DGBIs) and long COVID-19. Data extrapolated from adult trials may not apply to children, as their clinical course is different. PI-DGBIs and long COVID-19 require special attention, as they represent a major morbidity burden in children.