Investigation of Sars-CoV-2 Infection in Children of families affected by COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract Coronaviruses belong to the Coronaviridae family. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19, is a type of betacoronavirus. Many vital issues, characteristics, quarantine measures, and the treatment of children living in infected families with SARS-CoV-2 remain unknown. This study aimed to assess clinical features and frequency of PCR-positive tests among children in close contact with household COVID-19 cases. Three hundred thirty-three children in family clusters with confirmed COVID-19 infection were examined, and a nasopharyngeal sample was taken from each participant to be tested for the SARS-CoV-2 virus. We have defined the characteristics of children from infected family clusters and have considered the need for special medical attention for these children in the current viral crisis. The children's mean (SD) and median age were 8.18 (3.96) and eight years, respectively. Almost half (n = 165) of the children had at least one sign or symptom related to COVID-19. More than 42% (n = 141) of all the children had at least one general sign or symptom associated with COVID-19, followed by respiratory (27.9%, n = 93) and gastrointestinal (26.1, n = 87) signs and symptoms. Of the children exposed to cases of COVID-19 in their families, 42.3% (n = 141) were PCR positive for COVID-19and only four patients were hospitalized. The frequencies of SARS-CoV-2 infection in symptomatic children and asymptomatic ones were 43.6% and 41.1%, respectively (P > 0.5). Also, the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection showed no significant difference in sex, age, childbirth order, number of family members, underlying disease, and history of drug use (P > 0.05). In this study, almost all SARS-CoV-2 infection is mainly asymptomatic or mild during childhood. The importance of asymptomatic pediatric infection in transmitting the disease to others needs further investigation.