Frequency and burden of disease for SARS‐CoV‐2 and other viral respiratory tract infections in children under the age of 2 months

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo evaluate the frequency and burden of disease of SARS‐CoV‐2 and other respiratory viruses in children under the age of 2 months.MethodsA retrospective, cross‐sectional, single‐center study was conducted between March 2021 and February 2022. All children under the age of 2 months and tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 were included. The frequency of SARS‐CoV‐2, of other respiratory viruses and the burden of disease caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 and other respiratory viruses were evaluated.ResultsSeven hundred and twenty‐seven children with an RT‐PCR test for SARS‐CoV‐2 were included (mean age: 0.9 months (±0.6); boys: 57%); 514 (71%) in the emergency room and 213 (29%) in hospital. Among them, 62 (8.5%) had a positive RT‐PCR test for SARS‐CoV‐2, more often in the Omicron period (23%) than in the Alpha period (4%). Of the 565 (78%) with a multiplex RT‐PCR test for other viruses, 325 (58%) were positive. Children with a positive SARS‐CoV‐2 were less likely to have required respiratory support (p = 0.001), enteral nutrition (p = 0.03), or intensive care admission (p = 0.01) and had a shorter hospital stay than children with other respiratory viruses (5 days vs. 7 days, p = 0.007).ConclusionIn this young population of children, SARS‐CoV‐2 infection was less frequent and less severe than other viral respiratory infections.