World J Pediatr . Clinical characteristics of pediatric cases infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a tertiary children's medical center in Shanghai, China

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World J Pediatr


. 2022 Oct 17.
doi: 10.1007/s12519-022-00621-6. Online ahead of print.
Clinical characteristics of pediatric cases infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant in a tertiary children's medical center in Shanghai, China


Nan Shen ¹ , Yu-Fen Wu ² , Yi-Wei Chen ³ , Xiao-Yan Fang ⁴ , Min Zhou ⁵ , Wen-Yu Wang ⁶ , Ming-Yu Tang ⁷ , Qiu-Hui Pan ^{8 9} , Ji Ma ^{8 9} , Hao Zhang ¹⁰ , Qing Cao ¹¹



Affiliations

• PMID: 36251118
• DOI: 10.1007/s12519-022-00621-6

Abstract

Background: The number of pediatric cases of infection with the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant has increased. Here, we describe the clinical characteristics of children in a tertiary children's medical center in Shanghai.
Methods: A total of 676 pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases caused by the Omicron variant who were admitted to the Shanghai Children's Medical Center from March 28 to April 30, 2022 were enrolled in this single-center, prospective, observational real-world study. Patient demographics and clinical characteristics, especially COVID-19 vaccine status, were assessed.
Results: Children of all ages appeared susceptible to the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant, with no significant difference between sexes. A high SARS-CoV-2 viral load upon admission was associated with leukocytopenia, neutropenia, and thrombocytopenia (P = 0.003, P = 0.021, and P = 0.017, respectively) but not with physical symptoms or radiographic chest abnormalities. Univariable linear regression models indicated that comorbidities (P = 0.001) were associated with a longer time until viral clearance, and increasing age (P < 0.001) and two doses of COVID-19 vaccine (P = 0.001) were associated with a shorter time to viral clearance. Multivariable analysis revealed an independent effect of comorbidities (P < 0.001) and age (P = 0.003). The interaction effect between age and comorbidity showed that the negative association between age and time to virus clearance remained significant only in patients without underlying diseases (P < 0.001).
Conclusion: This study describes the clinical characteristics of children infected with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 and calls for additional studies to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of vaccination against COVID-19 in children.

Keywords: COVID-19 vaccine; Omicron variant; Pediatric COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2.