Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19

Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is associated with higher transmissibility, but lower disease severity, compared to some other variants. However, its exact pathogenicity among children is still largely unknown. This study was conducted...

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Main Authors: Yuchen Peng, Yufei Shi, Wentao Zhu, Xiaopeng Li, Jiwei Fu, Xincheng Wu, Pei Shi, Xiaoping Wu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries 2024-10-01
Series:Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
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Online Access:https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/18812
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author Yuchen Peng
Yufei Shi
Wentao Zhu
Xiaopeng Li
Jiwei Fu
Xincheng Wu
Pei Shi
Xiaoping Wu
author_facet Yuchen Peng
Yufei Shi
Wentao Zhu
Xiaopeng Li
Jiwei Fu
Xincheng Wu
Pei Shi
Xiaoping Wu
author_sort Yuchen Peng
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is associated with higher transmissibility, but lower disease severity, compared to some other variants. However, its exact pathogenicity among children is still largely unknown. This study was conducted to determine the differences in clinical characteristics between children and adults infected with this variant. Methodology: A total of 327 Omicron-infected patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, between 7 December 2022 and 10 March 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. They were divided into two groups: children (0–18 years, n = 149) and adults (> 18 years, n = 178). Differences in clinical classifications, symptoms, imaging features, biochemical markers, and positive nucleic acid test durations were compared between the groups. Results: Age had a significant impact on children in terms of clinical classifications (p < 0.05). Fever was the most common symptom among children (123/149), while coughing (151/178) was the most common among adults. The adults also had higher frequencies for pathological imaging features. The children had significantly higher white blood cell counts, and lymphocyte counts, while the adults had higher neutrophil percentages and C-reactive protein. Positive nucleic acid test durations were shorter among the children, compared to the adults. The children also had higher cumulative negative conversion and improvement rates (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, children with Omicron had milder clinical classifications, significantly different symptoms and biochemical indices, as well as lower occurrence of pathological imaging features and shorter positive nucleic acid test durations, compared to adults.
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spelling doaj-art-b9bac151708c45b09f447e2c71b6b30a2025-08-20T02:27:19ZengThe Journal of Infection in Developing CountriesJournal of Infection in Developing Countries1972-26802024-10-01181010.3855/jidc.18812Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19Yuchen Peng0Yufei Shi1Wentao Zhu2Xiaopeng Li3Jiwei Fu4Xincheng Wu5Pei Shi6Xiaoping Wu7Department of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, ChinaDepartment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China Introduction: The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant is associated with higher transmissibility, but lower disease severity, compared to some other variants. However, its exact pathogenicity among children is still largely unknown. This study was conducted to determine the differences in clinical characteristics between children and adults infected with this variant. Methodology: A total of 327 Omicron-infected patients admitted to the First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, between 7 December 2022 and 10 March 2023 were retrospectively evaluated. They were divided into two groups: children (0–18 years, n = 149) and adults (> 18 years, n = 178). Differences in clinical classifications, symptoms, imaging features, biochemical markers, and positive nucleic acid test durations were compared between the groups. Results: Age had a significant impact on children in terms of clinical classifications (p < 0.05). Fever was the most common symptom among children (123/149), while coughing (151/178) was the most common among adults. The adults also had higher frequencies for pathological imaging features. The children had significantly higher white blood cell counts, and lymphocyte counts, while the adults had higher neutrophil percentages and C-reactive protein. Positive nucleic acid test durations were shorter among the children, compared to the adults. The children also had higher cumulative negative conversion and improvement rates (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Overall, children with Omicron had milder clinical classifications, significantly different symptoms and biochemical indices, as well as lower occurrence of pathological imaging features and shorter positive nucleic acid test durations, compared to adults. https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/18812COVID-19Omicron variantclinical classificationschildrenadult
spellingShingle Yuchen Peng
Yufei Shi
Wentao Zhu
Xiaopeng Li
Jiwei Fu
Xincheng Wu
Pei Shi
Xiaoping Wu
Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19
Journal of Infection in Developing Countries
COVID-19
Omicron variant
clinical classifications
children
adult
title Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19
title_full Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19
title_fullStr Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19
title_full_unstemmed Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19
title_short Comparison of clinical and para-clinical characteristics between children and adults with the Omicron variant of COVID-19
title_sort comparison of clinical and para clinical characteristics between children and adults with the omicron variant of covid 19
topic COVID-19
Omicron variant
clinical classifications
children
adult
url https://jidc.org/index.php/journal/article/view/18812
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