Mild and Asymptomatic Coronavirus Disease in Children, Adolescents, and Household Contacts and Prolonged Viral Excretion

Mild and Asymptomatic Coronavirus Disease in Children, Adolescents, and Household Contacts and Prolonged Viral Excretion

Problem. The clinical presentation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in children remains controversial. This study analyzed viral excretion in children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate disease and their household contacts, who were treated in Jundiaí, Brazil between March and November 2020, bef...

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Main Authors: Márcia Borges Machado, Thamirys Cosmo Grillo Fajardo, Lourival Benedito de Oliveira, Antonio Carlos de Quadros Junior, Daniel Thome Catalan, Karim Cristina Piovesan, Maria Emília De Domenico Garcia, Maurício Feliciano da Silva, Rita de Cássia de Aguirre Bernardes Dezena, Saulo Duarte Passos
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:International Journal of Microbiology
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/5625104
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Summary:Problem. The clinical presentation of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in children remains controversial. This study analyzed viral excretion in children and adolescents with mild-to-moderate disease and their household contacts, who were treated in Jundiaí, Brazil between March and November 2020, before vaccination was available. Method. This was a prospective, observational, and descriptive cohort study. Nasopharyngeal swabs and blood were collected six times at weekly intervals. Quantitative reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) tests and immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgA assays were used to test for COVID-19. Results. Overall, 419 children and 253 adults were enrolled. There was a significant correlation between qRT-PCR confirmation and the 1 to <5 years age group (p=0.038). Serology changes or recent infections were detected significantly in children <6 months (IgG, p=0.006; IgA, p=0.001) and >5 years of age (IgA, p=0.040; IgG, p=0.031). The mean and median time-to-positivity (using qRT-PCR) was 17 days, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 34. Among adults, the mean and median time-to-positivity was 12.6 and 9 days, respectively, with a minimum of 6 and a maximum of 45. Conclusion. Oligosymptomatic conditions may delay diagnosis and facilitate viral transmission. Pediatric-focused research is required, and specific protective measures for children <6 months of age should be considered.
ISSN:1687-9198

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