tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Acta Paediatr
. 2022 Oct 19.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16576. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 increased in Italian children in the autumn and winter 2021-2002 period when Omicron was the dominant variant
Antonietta Curatola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Serena Ferretti[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Benedetta Graglia[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lavinia Capossela[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Giulia Menchinelli[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Barbara Fiori[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Antonio Chiaretti[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Maurizio Sanguinetti[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Antonio Gatto[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Aim: We examined the prevalence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children during the autumn and winter season from 1 September 2021 to 30 January 2022 and compared it with the same period in 2020-2021.
Methods: This study was carried out int the paediatric emergency department (PED) of a tertiary Italian hospital. We compared the clinical and demographical features of all children who presented during the two study periods and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Results: During the 2021-2022 autumn and winter season 5,813 children presented to the PED, 19.0% were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 133 (12.0%) of those tested positive. In 2020-2021, 2,914 presented to the PED, 12.3% were tested and 30 (8.3%) of those tested positive. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical severity during the two study periods, despite a higher percentage of neurological symptoms in 2020-2021. Of the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases, 29/133 (21.8%) were hospitalised during the 2021-2022 season and 10/30 (33.3%) during the previous one. Only 3/163 children required intensive care.
Conclusion: The greater spread of SARS-CoV-2 was probably due to the greater transmissibility of the Omicron variant, but the symptoms were mild and only 3 children required intensive care.
Keywords: Omicron variant; clinical severity; paediatric emergency department; pandemic.
. 2022 Oct 19.
doi: 10.1111/apa.16576. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 increased in Italian children in the autumn and winter 2021-2002 period when Omicron was the dominant variant
Antonietta Curatola[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Serena Ferretti[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Benedetta Graglia[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Lavinia Capossela[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Giulia Menchinelli[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Barbara Fiori[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Antonio Chiaretti[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Maurizio Sanguinetti[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Antonio Gatto[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 36259786
- DOI: 10.1111/apa.16576
Abstract
Aim: We examined the prevalence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children during the autumn and winter season from 1 September 2021 to 30 January 2022 and compared it with the same period in 2020-2021.
Methods: This study was carried out int the paediatric emergency department (PED) of a tertiary Italian hospital. We compared the clinical and demographical features of all children who presented during the two study periods and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.
Results: During the 2021-2022 autumn and winter season 5,813 children presented to the PED, 19.0% were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 133 (12.0%) of those tested positive. In 2020-2021, 2,914 presented to the PED, 12.3% were tested and 30 (8.3%) of those tested positive. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical severity during the two study periods, despite a higher percentage of neurological symptoms in 2020-2021. Of the SARS-CoV-2 positive cases, 29/133 (21.8%) were hospitalised during the 2021-2022 season and 10/30 (33.3%) during the previous one. Only 3/163 children required intensive care.
Conclusion: The greater spread of SARS-CoV-2 was probably due to the greater transmissibility of the Omicron variant, but the symptoms were mild and only 3 children required intensive care.
Keywords: Omicron variant; clinical severity; paediatric emergency department; pandemic.