tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Emerg Microbes Infect
. 2022 Jun 22;1-29.
doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2093135. Online ahead of print.
Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection in unvaccinated hospitalized children: Comparison to influenza and parainfluenza infections
Winnie W Y Tso MBBS[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mike Y W Kwan MBBS,MSc[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yu Liang Wang BSc[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lok Kan Leung MSocSc[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniel Leung[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gilbert T Chua MBBS[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Patrick Ip MBBS[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniel Y T Fong PhD[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wilfred H S Wong PhD[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sophelia H S Chan MBBS[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jasper F W Chan MD[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Malik Peiris DPhil[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Yu Lung Lau MBChB,MD(Hon)[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jaime S Rosa Duque MD,PhD[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
AbstractThere has been a rapid surge of hospitalization due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants globally. The severity of Omicron BA.2 in unexposed, unvaccinated, hospitalized children is unknown. We investigated the severity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection during the Omicron wave in uninfected, unvaccinated hospitalized children and in comparison with influenza and parainfluenza viral infections. This population-based study retrieved data from the HK territory-wide CDARS database of hospitalisations in all public hospitals and compared severe outcomes for the Omicron BA.2-dominant fifth wave (5 to 28 February 2022, n = 1144), and influenza and parainfluenza viruses (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019, n = 32212 and n = 16423, respectively) in children 0-11 years old. Two deaths (0.2%) out of 1144 cases during the initial Omicron wave were recorded. Twenty-one (1.8%) required PICU admission, and the relative risk was higher for Omicron than influenza virus (n = 254, 0.8%, adjusted RR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.3-3.3, p = 0.001). The proportion with neurological complications was 15.0% (n = 171) for Omicron, which was higher than influenza and parainfluenza viruses (n = 2707, 8.4%, adjusted RR = 1.6, 95%CI 1.4-1.9 and n = 1258, 7.7%, adjusted RR = 1.9, 95%CI 1.6-2.2, p < 0.001 for both, respectively). Croup occurred for Omicron (n = 61, 5.3%) more than influenza virus (n = 601, 1.9%, adjusted RR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.5-2.6, p < 0.001) but not parainfluenza virus (n = 889, 5.4%). Our findings showed that for hospitalized children who had no past COVID-19 or vaccination, Omicron BA.2 was not mild. Omicron BA.2 appeared to be more neuropathogenic than influenza and parainfluenza viruses. It targeted the upper airways more than influenza virus.
Keywords: COVID-19; Omicron; children; neurological; respiratory.
. 2022 Jun 22;1-29.
doi: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2093135. Online ahead of print.
Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2 infection in unvaccinated hospitalized children: Comparison to influenza and parainfluenza infections
Winnie W Y Tso MBBS[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Mike Y W Kwan MBBS,MSc[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Yu Liang Wang BSc[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Lok Kan Leung MSocSc[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniel Leung[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Gilbert T Chua MBBS[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Patrick Ip MBBS[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Daniel Y T Fong PhD[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Wilfred H S Wong PhD[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Sophelia H S Chan MBBS[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jasper F W Chan MD[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Malik Peiris DPhil[SUP] 6 [/SUP], Yu Lung Lau MBChB,MD(Hon)[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Jaime S Rosa Duque MD,PhD[SUP] 1 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35730665
- DOI: 10.1080/22221751.2022.2093135
Abstract
AbstractThere has been a rapid surge of hospitalization due to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variants globally. The severity of Omicron BA.2 in unexposed, unvaccinated, hospitalized children is unknown. We investigated the severity and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 infection during the Omicron wave in uninfected, unvaccinated hospitalized children and in comparison with influenza and parainfluenza viral infections. This population-based study retrieved data from the HK territory-wide CDARS database of hospitalisations in all public hospitals and compared severe outcomes for the Omicron BA.2-dominant fifth wave (5 to 28 February 2022, n = 1144), and influenza and parainfluenza viruses (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2019, n = 32212 and n = 16423, respectively) in children 0-11 years old. Two deaths (0.2%) out of 1144 cases during the initial Omicron wave were recorded. Twenty-one (1.8%) required PICU admission, and the relative risk was higher for Omicron than influenza virus (n = 254, 0.8%, adjusted RR = 2.1, 95%CI 1.3-3.3, p = 0.001). The proportion with neurological complications was 15.0% (n = 171) for Omicron, which was higher than influenza and parainfluenza viruses (n = 2707, 8.4%, adjusted RR = 1.6, 95%CI 1.4-1.9 and n = 1258, 7.7%, adjusted RR = 1.9, 95%CI 1.6-2.2, p < 0.001 for both, respectively). Croup occurred for Omicron (n = 61, 5.3%) more than influenza virus (n = 601, 1.9%, adjusted RR = 2.0, 95%CI 1.5-2.6, p < 0.001) but not parainfluenza virus (n = 889, 5.4%). Our findings showed that for hospitalized children who had no past COVID-19 or vaccination, Omicron BA.2 was not mild. Omicron BA.2 appeared to be more neuropathogenic than influenza and parainfluenza viruses. It targeted the upper airways more than influenza virus.
Keywords: COVID-19; Omicron; children; neurological; respiratory.