Introduction:

COVID-19 affects children less than adults. The innate and adaptive immune response plays an important role in the control of SARS-CoV-2 infection.

Objective:

to describe the characteristics of the immune response in children with COVID-19 and the main clinical symptoms.

Methods:

a literature review was performed, the descriptors COVID-19 and SARS-CoV-2 were selected, full articles in English and Spanish were searched in Google Scholar, PubMed Central and SciELO. Journal articles and pages of recognized international organizations were reviewed.

Development:

the role of the innate and acquired immune response in the resistance of the pediatric population to SARS-CoV-2 infection is analyzed. The first line of defense is provided by innate immunity at mucosal level, followed by humoral immunity with the synthesis by B lymphocytes (activated to plasma cells) of antibodies or immunoglobulins against the virus and cellular immunity with the activation of T lymphocytes.

Conclusions:

in contrast to respiratory tract infections caused by other viruses, SARS-CoV-2 has less impact on the health of children compared to adults; however, cases of severe disease have been observed. The favorable outcome of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children suggests that a robust early innate immune response may play an important role. The experience gained with Covid-19 will be very important for the prevention and care of other infections affecting children and for pathogens that will cause future pandemics.

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