Juvenile inflammatory rheumatic disease associated with higher antibody responses to seasonal coronaviruses
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pathogen behind the current coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is a coronavirus of the betacoronavirus family. However, there are other human seasonal coronaviruses that cause endemic human infection, with mild common cold symptoms. The spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 infection also ranges from mild symptoms like a runny nose, nasal congestion or mild fever, to severe gastrointestinal or respiratory disease, sometimes terminating in multi-organ failure.
SARS-CoV-2 vs HCoV-OC43 infection
The complications of COVID-19 are observed in less than a tenth of patients, with risk factors for these including male sex, advanced age, ethnic background, lack of healthcare access, and pre-existing conditions. The majority of infections are asymptomatic.