Why is SARS-CoV-2 infection milder among children?

Acute respiratory viral diseases, like most other infectious diseases, affect mainly infants and young children, who present with 6-8 episodes per year and usually develop more severe manifestations than in adults. It is well-documented that innate antiviral immune responses in early life are characterized by lower type I interferon (IFN) responses () and reduced natural killer cell activity, which despite their higher numbers exhibit lower cytotoxic capacity and reduced number of cytoplasmic granules and degranulation ability (). Additionally, lower cytotoxic [...]