The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal has reported that children aged 8 years or younger should be thought of as a population at high risk for more serious viral infections.

Data from low-income nations has shown that children under 8 years are particularly at risk including potentially deadly bacterial infections. The risk of problems from scratching and spreading the infection to other body regions, such as the eyes, may also be higher in young children. However, it has been noted that childrens mortality and hospitalization rates are rising, even in high-income countries.

Experts claimed that none of the antiviral medications, including tecovirimat, which is effective against orthopoxviruses, and vaccinia immune globulin (VIG), have shown to be effective against the monkeypox virus in humans in clinical trials. As a result, they are currently only recommended after consultation with national health authorities. The challenge increases in those instances where patients are pregnant women, nursing mothers, and infants born to infected mothers. However, smallpox immunization offers a defense against monkey pox, hence authorities should be prepared to quickly implement immunization of this age group in case the current outbreak spreads to children.

(Source: https://www.livemint.com/science/health/monkeypox-risk-higher-in-younger-kids-study-11667002186873.html)