Household Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Transmission and Children: A Network Prospective Study.

Adult COVID-19 Child Family Characteristics Humans Pandemics Prospective Studies SARS-CoV-2

SARS-CoV-2 child coronavirus household transmission

Journal

Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America

ISSN: 1537-6591

Titre abrégé: Clin Infect Dis

Pays: United States

ID NLM: 9203213

Informations de publication

Date de publication:
15 09 2021

Historique:

received: 22 01 2021

pubmed: 13 3 2021

medline: 24 9 2021

entrez: 12 3 2021

Statut: ppublish

Résumé

The role of children in household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Catalonia, Spain, and investigate the household transmission dynamics. A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed during summer and school periods (1 July 2020-31 October 2020) to analyze epidemiological and clinical features and viral household transmission dynamics in COVID-19 patients aged <16 years. A pediatric index case was established when a child was the first individual infected. Secondary cases were defined when another household member tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before the child. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated, and logistic regression was used to assess associations between transmission risk factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection. The study included 1040 COVID-19 patients. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, and 2.6% required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. Viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%). More than 70% (756/1040) of pediatric cases were secondary to an adult, whereas 7.7% (80/1040) were index cases. The SAR was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (P = .02) and compared to adults (P = .006). No individual or environmental risk factors associated with the SAR. Children are unlikely to cause household COVID-19 clusters or be major drivers of the pandemic, even if attending school. Interventions aimed at children are expected to have a small impact on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Sections du résumé

BACKGROUND

METHODS

A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed during summer and school periods (1 July 2020-31 October 2020) to analyze epidemiological and clinical features and viral household transmission dynamics in COVID-19 patients aged <16 years. A pediatric index case was established when a child was the first individual infected. Secondary cases were defined when another household member tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before the child. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated, and logistic regression was used to assess associations between transmission risk factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection.

RESULTS

The study included 1040 COVID-19 patients. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, and 2.6% required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. Viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%). More than 70% (756/1040) of pediatric cases were secondary to an adult, whereas 7.7% (80/1040) were index cases. The SAR was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (P = .02) and compared to adults (P = .006). No individual or environmental risk factors associated with the SAR.

CONCLUSIONS

Children are unlikely to cause household COVID-19 clusters or be major drivers of the pandemic, even if attending school. Interventions aimed at children are expected to have a small impact on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Identifiants

DOI: 10.1093/cid/ciab228 PMID: 33709135 PMC: PMC7989526

pubmed: 33709135

pii: 6168547

doi: 10.1093/cid/ciab228

pmc: PMC7989526

doi:

Types de publication

Journal Article Multicenter Study

Langues

eng

Sous-ensembles de citation

Pagination

e1261-e1269

Investigateurs

Marc García-Lorenzo (M)

Lorena Braviz (L)

Àngels Naranjo (À)

Olga Salvadó (O)

Silvia Burgaya (S)

Lidia Aulet (L)

Javier Cantero (J)

Gloria Ruiz (G)

Marina Fenoy (M)

Abel Martínez-Mejías (A)

Iris González (I)

Anton Foguet (A)

Imma Bayona (I)

Guillermo García (G)

Laia Solé (L)

Clara Calbet (C)

Mireia Carulla (M)

Neus Piquè (N)

Pilar Llobet (P)

Berta Pujol (B)

Álvaro Díaz-Conradi (Á)

Maria Esteller (M)

Blanca Rosich (B)

Arantxa Gómez (A)

Anna Mª Ristol (AM)

Borja Guarch (B)

Francesc Ripoll (F)

Maria Chiné (M)

Carlos Losana (C)

Romina Conti (R)

Isabel Zambudio (I)

Mercè Escuer (M)

Joan Manuel Torres (J)

Tomas Perez-Porcuna (T)

Emiliano Mora (E)

Roger García-Puig (R)

Silvia Prado (S)

Daniel Gros (D)

Mercè Giribet (M)

Pili Villalobos (P)

Dolors Canadell (D)

Xavier Bruna (X)

Elisenda Martínez-Carbonell (E)

Anna Bordas (A)

Alexis Sentis (A)

Jordi Aceiton (J)

Jordi Casabona (J)

Carlos Herrero (C)

Isabel Casas (I)

Nathalia Joaqui (N)

Vanessa Laveglia (V)

Grisel Vilagrasa (G)

Maria Méndez (M)

Laura Minguell (L)

Núria Visa (N)

Fernando Paredes (F)

Anna Vidal-Moreso (A)

Rosario Díez (R)

Ana Moreira (A)

Evelyn Berbel (E)

Stephan Schneider (S)

Maria Milà (M)

Ana Maldonado (A)

Imma Caubet (I)

Magda Campins (M)

Juliana Esperalba (J)

Andrés Anton (A)

Jordi Gómez I Prat (J)

Raisa Morales (R)

José Santos (J)

Pilar Gussinyé (P)

Teresa Fenollosa (T)

Coral Moreno (C)

Joan Azemar (J)

Xavier Duran (X)

Gemma Terrer (G)

Evaristo Galdeano (E)

Raquel Plasencia (R)

Rebecca Oglesby (R)

Isabel Vives-Oñós (I)

Silvia Sabaté (S)

Vanessa Fernandez (V)

Cintia Ago (C)

Anna Castan (A)

Francesc Fornaguera (F)

Dolors Panadés (D)

Ernesto Mónaco (E)

Gemma Ricós (G)

Gina Catasús (G)

Maria Mendoza (M)

Lidia Busquets (L)

Esperança Macià (E)

Sandra Segura (S)

Ramona Martín (R)

Verónica Sandra López (V)

Commentaires et corrections

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