Doctors concerned how COVID-19 affects the lungs of children

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Palm Beach County’s top health official is sounding the alarm about children and the coronavirus.

For the first time, doctors are seeing the effects COVID-19 is having on their lungs.

Dr. Alina Alonso, director of the Florida Department of Health in Palm Beach County, says when some kids get coronavirus, the long-term effects are unknown. She’s worried enough about this that she shared her concerns with Palm Beach County commissioners.

“I’m very concerned in terms of the children because of that long-term damage," she said. "We have no idea what that will look like."

Dr. Alonso is warning the public about what the coronavirus may be doing to some youngsters.

“In the five to 14-year-olds, when those children are examined, there are changes in the lungs that have occurred," she said. "We have no idea what the long-term effect of this will be."

COVID-19 may also affect the lungs of toddlers, according to Alonso. She says doctors are seeing changes in the lungs in chest X-rays, specifically in children ages zero to four.

“It might affect them in terms of chronic asthma or any other respiratory problems, so we gotta keep a close eye on that," she sad.

Another local doctor shares her concern.

“We do not know what the long-term effects on children’s lungs are. Currently, we’re seeing that children are having milder symptoms as compared to the adults. But we know that kids who have a predisposition to asthma usually have a little more extreme symptoms," said Dr. Angelica Johnson, a pediatric emergency physician with the T. Leroy Jefferson Medical Society in West Palm Beach.

Dr. Johnson says the effects of COVID-19 on children’s lungs needs to be carefully monitored.

“There have been concerns coming out of Italy and Europe who have seen this a little longer than we have that there may be some scarring in the lungs," she said. "We’re just all kind of playing it by ear and trying to treat these kids as best as possible."

What advice does Johnson have for parents?

“Make sure you stay away from other people, or if your children are even having little mild symptoms, make sure they stay home, wearing masks when they’re out in public," she said. "Washing hands is very important."

Johnson says the real test may come during flu and respiratory season, which usually starts in September or October. Then, she says we may start to see how widespread this effect will be on the lungs of children who’ve had the coronavirus.