tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Ann Transl Med
. 2020 May;8(10):623.
doi: 10.21037/atm-20-3192.
A Follow-Up Study of Children Infected With SARS-CoV-2 From Western China
Hongmei Xu[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Enmei Liu[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Jun Xie[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Rosalind L Smyth[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Qi Zhou[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Ruiqiu Zhao[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Na Zang[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Xiaoru Long[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Yuyi Tang[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Janne Estill[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Shu Yang[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Jing Zhu[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Xiaofeng Yan[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Fang Gong[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Wenguang Tian[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Xiaqia Zhou[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Yunbo Mo[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Hongzhou Xiao[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Zhengzhen Tang[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Yanni Chen[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Yi Wang[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Yuxia Cui[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Xiuling Fang[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Feiyu Li[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Yong Tian[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Peibo Li[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Quanmin Deng[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Chongsong Ren[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Ronghui He[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Yi Li[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Hong Qin[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Aiguo Wang[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Hongli Deng[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Jianguo Wu[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Wenbo Meng[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Weiguo Li[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Yao Zhao[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Zhengxiu Luo[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Zijun Wang[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Yaolong Chen[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Gary Wing Kin Wong[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Qiu Li[SUP] 2 3 28 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Background: To clarify the characteristic and the duration of positive nucleic acid in children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including asymptomatic children.
Methods: A total of 32 children confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between January 24 and February 12, 2020 from four provinces in western China were enrolled in this study and followed up until discharge and quarantine 14 days later.
Results: Eleven children (34%) were asymptomatic, among whom six children had normal computed tomographic (CT) scan images. Age and gender were not associated with clinical symptoms or the results of CT scan in children infected with SARS-CoV-2. The concentrations of white blood cells and neutrophils were higher in children with asymptomatic infection than in children with clinical symptoms or CT abnormalities. Patients who presented with CT abnormalities had lower D-dimer or lower total bilirubin than those who had normal CT scan but clinical symptoms. All children recovered and no one died or was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The mean duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was 15.4 (SD =7.2) days and similar for both asymptomatic children and children with symptoms or CT abnormalities. We found a significant negative correlation between the lymphocyte count and the duration of positive nucleic acid test.
Conclusions: Children with asymptomatic infection should be quarantined for the same duration as symptomatic patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The clinical significance and mechanism behind the negative correlation between the number of lymphocytes and the duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 needs further study.
Keywords: Coronavirus; asymptomatic infection; children; western China.
. 2020 May;8(10):623.
doi: 10.21037/atm-20-3192.
A Follow-Up Study of Children Infected With SARS-CoV-2 From Western China
Hongmei Xu[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Enmei Liu[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Jun Xie[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Rosalind L Smyth[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Qi Zhou[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Ruiqiu Zhao[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Na Zang[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Xiaoru Long[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Yuyi Tang[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Janne Estill[SUP] 7 [/SUP], Shu Yang[SUP] 8 [/SUP], Jing Zhu[SUP] 1 2 3 [/SUP], Xiaofeng Yan[SUP] 9 [/SUP], Fang Gong[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Wenguang Tian[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Xiaqia Zhou[SUP] 10 [/SUP], Yunbo Mo[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Hongzhou Xiao[SUP] 11 [/SUP], Zhengzhen Tang[SUP] 12 [/SUP], Yanni Chen[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Yi Wang[SUP] 13 [/SUP], Yuxia Cui[SUP] 14 [/SUP], Xiuling Fang[SUP] 15 [/SUP], Feiyu Li[SUP] 16 [/SUP], Yong Tian[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Peibo Li[SUP] 17 [/SUP], Quanmin Deng[SUP] 18 [/SUP], Chongsong Ren[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Ronghui He[SUP] 19 [/SUP], Yi Li[SUP] 20 [/SUP], Hong Qin[SUP] 21 [/SUP], Aiguo Wang[SUP] 22 [/SUP], Hongli Deng[SUP] 23 [/SUP], Jianguo Wu[SUP] 24 [/SUP], Wenbo Meng[SUP] 25 [/SUP], Weiguo Li[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Yao Zhao[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Zhengxiu Luo[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Zijun Wang[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Yaolong Chen[SUP] 26 [/SUP], Gary Wing Kin Wong[SUP] 27 [/SUP], Qiu Li[SUP] 2 3 28 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 32566560
- PMCID: PMC7290618
- DOI: 10.21037/atm-20-3192
Abstract
Background: To clarify the characteristic and the duration of positive nucleic acid in children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), including asymptomatic children.
Methods: A total of 32 children confirmed with SARS-CoV-2 infection between January 24 and February 12, 2020 from four provinces in western China were enrolled in this study and followed up until discharge and quarantine 14 days later.
Results: Eleven children (34%) were asymptomatic, among whom six children had normal computed tomographic (CT) scan images. Age and gender were not associated with clinical symptoms or the results of CT scan in children infected with SARS-CoV-2. The concentrations of white blood cells and neutrophils were higher in children with asymptomatic infection than in children with clinical symptoms or CT abnormalities. Patients who presented with CT abnormalities had lower D-dimer or lower total bilirubin than those who had normal CT scan but clinical symptoms. All children recovered and no one died or was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). The mean duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid was 15.4 (SD =7.2) days and similar for both asymptomatic children and children with symptoms or CT abnormalities. We found a significant negative correlation between the lymphocyte count and the duration of positive nucleic acid test.
Conclusions: Children with asymptomatic infection should be quarantined for the same duration as symptomatic patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The clinical significance and mechanism behind the negative correlation between the number of lymphocytes and the duration of positive SARS-CoV-2 needs further study.
Keywords: Coronavirus; asymptomatic infection; children; western China.