Antoni Soriano-Arandes1, Anna Gatell2, Pepe Serrano2, Mireia Biosca3, Ferran Campillo4, Ramon Capdevila3, Anna Fàbrega5, Zulema Lobato6, Núria López7, Ana Mª Moreno8, Miriam Poblet9, Maria Teresa Riera-Bosch10, Neus Rius11, Montserrat Ruiz12, Almudena Sánchez13, Cinta Valldepérez2, Mònica Vilà14, Valentí Pineda15, Uxue Lazcano16, Yesika Díaz17,18, Juliana Reyes-Urueña17,19, Pere Soler-Palacín1. 1. Pediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit, Hospital Universitari Valld'Hebron, Barcelona, Spain. 2. Equip Pediatria Territorial AltPenedès-Garraf, Barcelona, Spain. 3. ABS Les Borges Blanques, Lleida, Spain. 4. Hospital d'Olot i Equip Pediàtric Territorial Garrotxa i Ripollès (EPTGiR), Girona, Spain. 5. EAP Figueres, Alt Empordà, Girona, Spain. 6. Hospital Althaia Manresa, Barcelona, Spain. 7. Hospital Universitari del Mar, Barcelona, Spain. 8. EAP Ripollet, Barcelona, Spain. 9. Equip Territorial Pediàtric Sabadell Nord, Barcelona, Spain. 10. EAP Vic Nord, Barcelona, Spain. 11. Hospital Universitari San Joan de Reus, Tarragona, Spain. 12. Hospital Universitari de Vic, Barcelona, Spain. 13. CAP Les Hortes, Barcelona, Spain. 14. EAP Horta, Barcelona, Spain. 15. Hospital Universitari Parc Taulí, Sabadell, Barcelona, Spain. 16. Agencia de Qualitat i Avaluació Sanitaria de Catalunya, Catalan Agency for Quality and Health Assessment, Generalitat de Catalunya, Barcelona, Spain. 17. Centre Estudis Epidemiològics sobre les Infeccions de Transmissió Sexual i Sida de Catalunya (CEEISCAT), Departament de Salut, Generalitat de Catalunya, Badalona, Spain. 18. Institut d'Investigació Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Badalona, Spain. 19. CIBER Epidemiologia y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Spain.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The role of children in household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Catalonia, Spain, and investigate the household transmission dynamics. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed during summer and school periods (1 July 2020-31 October 2020) to analyze epidemiological and clinical features and viral household transmission dynamics in COVID-19 patients aged <16 years. A pediatric index case was established when a child was the first individual infected. Secondary cases were defined when another household member tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before the child. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated, and logistic regression was used to assess associations between transmission risk factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: The study included 1040 COVID-19 patients. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, and 2.6% required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. Viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%). More than 70% (756/1040) of pediatric cases were secondary to an adult, whereas 7.7% (80/1040) were index cases. The SAR was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (P = .02) and compared to adults (P = .006). No individual or environmental risk factors associated with the SAR. CONCLUSIONS: Children are unlikely to cause household COVID-19 clusters or be major drivers of the pandemic, even if attending school. Interventions aimed at children are expected to have a small impact on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
BACKGROUND: The role of children in household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Catalonia, Spain, and investigate the household transmission dynamics. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed during summer and school periods (1 July 2020-31 October 2020) to analyze epidemiological and clinical features and viral household transmission dynamics in COVID-19 patients aged <16 years. A pediatric index case was established when a child was the first individual infected. Secondary cases were defined when another household member tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before the child. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated, and logistic regression was used to assess associations between transmission risk factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: The study included 1040 COVID-19 patients. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, and 2.6% required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. Viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%). More than 70% (756/1040) of pediatric cases were secondary to an adult, whereas 7.7% (80/1040) were index cases. The SAR was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (P = .02) and compared to adults (P = .006). No individual or environmental risk factors associated with the SAR. CONCLUSIONS: Children are unlikely to cause household COVID-19 clusters or be major drivers of the pandemic, even if attending school. Interventions aimed at children are expected to have a small impact on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
Authors: Lael M Yonker; Julie Boucau; James Regan; Manish C Choudhary; Madeleine D Burns; Nicola Young; Eva J Farkas; Jameson P Davis; Peter P Moschovis; T Bernard Kinane; Alessio Fasano; Anne M Neilan; Jonathan Z Li; Amy K Barczak Journal: J Infect Dis Date: 2021-12-01 Impact factor: 7.759
Authors: Melissa Lucero Tanaka; Carolyn Jennifer Marentes Ruiz; Sanchi Malhotra; Lauren Turner; Ariana Peralta; Yesun Lee; Jaycee Jumarang; Stephanie E Perez; Jocelyn Navarro; Jennifer Dien Bard; Aubree Gordon; E Kaitlynn Allen; Paul G Thomas; Pia S Pannaraj Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2022-01-05 Impact factor: 3.569
Authors: Ronan Lordan; Samantha Prior; Elizabeth Hennessy; Amruta Naik; Soumita Ghosh; Georgios K Paschos; Carsten Skarke; Kayla Barekat; Taylor Hollingsworth; Sydney Juska; Liudmila L Mazaleuskaya; Sarah Teegarden; Abigail L Glascock; Sean Anderson; Hu Meng; Soon-Yew Tang; Aalim Weljie; Lisa Bottalico; Emanuela Ricciotti; Perla Cherfane; Antonijo Mrcela; Gregory Grant; Kristen Poole; Natalie Mayer; Michael Waring; Laura Adang; Julie Becker; Susanne Fries; Garret A FitzGerald; Tilo Grosser Journal: Front Public Health Date: 2021-12-16
Authors: Mario Tagliabue; Anna Lisa Ridolfo; Paolo Pina; Giuseppe Rizzolo; Sonia Belbusti; Spinello Antinori; Martina Beltrami; Dario Cattaneo; Cristina Gervasoni Journal: Prev Med Rep Date: 2021-06-26
Authors: Lukas Galow; Luise Haag; Elisabeth Kahre; Judith Blankenburg; Alexander H Dalpke; Christian Lück; Reinhard Berner; Jakob P Armann Journal: J Infect Date: 2021-04-28 Impact factor: 6.072