tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Front Pediatr
. 2026 Jan 12:13:1658340.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1658340. eCollection 2025.
Incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine BNT162 side effects in children and adolescents with Noonan Syndrome: a national multicentric study
Sarah Dal Ben[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Federica Tamburrino[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Francesca Bonomo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Emanuela Scarano[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Eleonora Orlandini[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Gabriella Pozzobon[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Claudia Giavoli[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Chiara Corezzola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Maria Felicia Faienza[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Giuseppa Patti[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Donatella Capalbo[SUP] 9 10 [/SUP], Mariacarolina Salerno[SUP] 9 10 [/SUP], Roberto Franceschi[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Silvia Longhi[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Malgorzata Gabriela Wasniewska[SUP] 13 14 [/SUP], Domenico Corica[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Thomas Zoller[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michele Piazza[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mohamad Maghnie[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Franco Antoniazzi[SUP] 1 15 [/SUP], Rossella Gaudino[SUP] 1 15 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Background: Pre-existing medical conditions are known to increase the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even in pediatric populations. This study aimed to evaluate the symptoms and severity of COVID-19, as well as the side effects of the BNT162 vaccine, in children and adolescents with Noonan Syndrome (NS) compared to healthy controls.
Methods: A retrospective and prospective multicenter study was conducted across Italy. Clinical characteristics, course, and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as side effects of the BNT162 vaccine, were compared between 97 patients with NS and 97 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.
Results: No statistically significant differences were found in the severity or duration of COVID-19 between NS patients and controls. NS patients exhibited a higher rate of rhinorrhea during SARS-CoV-2 infection (69.2% vs. 46%, p < 0.05), whereas anosmia was more common among controls (1.5% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences in side effects from the BNT162 vaccine were observed between groups. 95% confidence intervals were calculated for key outcomes to improve comparability.
Conclusion: Children and adolescents with Noonan Syndrome generally experience a mild course of COVID-19 and show no evidence of increased vaccine-related risk. Despite the small sample size and the rarity of severe events, these findings yield valuable insights for patients living with this rare disease.
Keywords: BNT162; COVID-19; Noonan syndrome; SARS-CoV-2; pandemic; vaccine.
. 2026 Jan 12:13:1658340.
doi: 10.3389/fped.2025.1658340. eCollection 2025.
Incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection and vaccine BNT162 side effects in children and adolescents with Noonan Syndrome: a national multicentric study
Sarah Dal Ben[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Federica Tamburrino[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Francesca Bonomo[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Emanuela Scarano[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Eleonora Orlandini[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Gabriella Pozzobon[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Claudia Giavoli[SUP] 4 5 [/SUP], Chiara Corezzola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Maria Felicia Faienza[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Giuseppa Patti[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Donatella Capalbo[SUP] 9 10 [/SUP], Mariacarolina Salerno[SUP] 9 10 [/SUP], Roberto Franceschi[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Silvia Longhi[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Malgorzata Gabriela Wasniewska[SUP] 13 14 [/SUP], Domenico Corica[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Thomas Zoller[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Michele Piazza[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Mohamad Maghnie[SUP] 7 8 [/SUP], Franco Antoniazzi[SUP] 1 15 [/SUP], Rossella Gaudino[SUP] 1 15 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 41602885
- PMCID: PMC12832667
- DOI: 10.3389/fped.2025.1658340
Background: Pre-existing medical conditions are known to increase the risk of severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), even in pediatric populations. This study aimed to evaluate the symptoms and severity of COVID-19, as well as the side effects of the BNT162 vaccine, in children and adolescents with Noonan Syndrome (NS) compared to healthy controls.
Methods: A retrospective and prospective multicenter study was conducted across Italy. Clinical characteristics, course, and duration of SARS-CoV-2 infection, as well as side effects of the BNT162 vaccine, were compared between 97 patients with NS and 97 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects.
Results: No statistically significant differences were found in the severity or duration of COVID-19 between NS patients and controls. NS patients exhibited a higher rate of rhinorrhea during SARS-CoV-2 infection (69.2% vs. 46%, p < 0.05), whereas anosmia was more common among controls (1.5% vs. 12.7%, p < 0.05). No statistically significant differences in side effects from the BNT162 vaccine were observed between groups. 95% confidence intervals were calculated for key outcomes to improve comparability.
Conclusion: Children and adolescents with Noonan Syndrome generally experience a mild course of COVID-19 and show no evidence of increased vaccine-related risk. Despite the small sample size and the rarity of severe events, these findings yield valuable insights for patients living with this rare disease.
Keywords: BNT162; COVID-19; Noonan syndrome; SARS-CoV-2; pandemic; vaccine.