Challenges in Treating Pediatric Cancer Patients During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Balancing Risks and Care

Overview

Journal Viruses

Publisher MDPI

Specialty Microbiology

Date 2024 May 25

PMID 38793571

Authors

Juan Luis Chavez-Pacheco

Manuel Castillejos-Lopez

Laura M Hernandez-Regino

Liliana Velasco-Hidalgo

Marta Zapata-Tarres

Valeria Correa-Carranza

Guillermo Rosario-Mendez

Rehotbevely Barrientos-Rios

Arnoldo Aquino-Galvez

Luz Maria Torres-Espindola

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in millions of fatalities worldwide. The case of pediatric cancer patients stands out since, despite being considered a population at risk, few studies have been carried out concerning symptom detection or the description of the mechanisms capable of modifying the course of the COVID-19 disease, such as the interaction and response between the virus and the treatment given to cancer patients. By synthesizing existing studies, this paper aims to expose the treatment challenges for pediatric patients with COVID-19 in an oncology context. Additionally, this updated review includes studies that utilized the antiviral agents Remdesivir and Paxlovid in pediatric cancer patients. There is no specific treatment designed exclusively for pediatric cancer patients dealing with COVID-19, and it is advisable to avoid self-medication to prevent potential side effects. Managing COVID-19 in pediatric cancer patients is indeed a substantial challenge. New strategies, such as chemotherapy application rooms, have been implemented for children with cancer who were positive for COVID-19 but asymptomatic since the risk of disease progression is greater than the risk of complications from SARS-CoV-2.

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