tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Acta Paediatr
. 2022 Feb 17.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16301. Online ahead of print.
A very low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection but a high prevalence of other respiratory virus infections in children admitted to paediatric emergency departments
Juliette Viart[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ilka Engelmann[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Flora Joannes[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Christèle Gras-Le Guen[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Hervé Haas[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Marie Chinazzo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Aymeric Cantais[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Amélie Gatin[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Camille Brehin[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Ilyes Benhalima[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mahdi Ouafi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alain Martinot[SUP] 1 10 [/SUP], François Dubos[SUP] 1 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the prevalence of infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses among children admitted to paediatric emergency departments.
Methods: From April to July 2020, a prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted in the paediatric emergency departments of eight French university hospitals. Regardless of the reason for admission, a nasopharyngeal swab sample from each child was screened using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. We determined the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, and identified risk factors associated with a positive test.
Results: Of the 924 included children (median [interquartile range] age: 4 years [1-9]; boys: 55%), 908 (98.3%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Only 3 samples were positive (0.3%; 95% confidence interval: 0.1-1) and none of these children had symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019. Of the 836 samples (90%) tested for other viruses, 129 (15.4%) were positive (primarily rhinovirus). Respiratory viruses were significantly more common in young children and in children with respiratory tract symptoms and fever.
Conclusion: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among children admitted to emergency departments was low. In contrast, and despite social distancing and other protective measures, the prevalence of other respiratory viruses detection was high.
Keywords: COVID-19; Children; SARS-CoV-2; prevalence; respiratory virus.
. 2022 Feb 17.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16301. Online ahead of print.
A very low prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection but a high prevalence of other respiratory virus infections in children admitted to paediatric emergency departments
Juliette Viart[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ilka Engelmann[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Flora Joannes[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Christèle Gras-Le Guen[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Hervé Haas[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Marie Chinazzo[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Aymeric Cantais[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Amélie Gatin[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Camille Brehin[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Ilyes Benhalima[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Mahdi Ouafi[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Alain Martinot[SUP] 1 10 [/SUP], François Dubos[SUP] 1 10 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35178741
- DOI: 10.1111/apa.16301
Abstract
Aim: To investigate the prevalence of infections by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and other respiratory viruses among children admitted to paediatric emergency departments.
Methods: From April to July 2020, a prospective, multicentre cohort study was conducted in the paediatric emergency departments of eight French university hospitals. Regardless of the reason for admission, a nasopharyngeal swab sample from each child was screened using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests for SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses. We determined the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses, and identified risk factors associated with a positive test.
Results: Of the 924 included children (median [interquartile range] age: 4 years [1-9]; boys: 55%), 908 (98.3%) were tested for SARS-CoV-2. Only 3 samples were positive (0.3%; 95% confidence interval: 0.1-1) and none of these children had symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019. Of the 836 samples (90%) tested for other viruses, 129 (15.4%) were positive (primarily rhinovirus). Respiratory viruses were significantly more common in young children and in children with respiratory tract symptoms and fever.
Conclusion: The prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 among children admitted to emergency departments was low. In contrast, and despite social distancing and other protective measures, the prevalence of other respiratory viruses detection was high.
Keywords: COVID-19; Children; SARS-CoV-2; prevalence; respiratory virus.