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Coronavirus Disease-19 Among Children Outside Wuhan, China

21 Pages Posted: 3 Mar 2020

See all articles by Chuming Chen

Chuming Chen

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Mengli Cao

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Ling Peng

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Xiaoyan Guo

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Fangji Yang

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Weibo Wu

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Li Chen

Independent

Yang Yang

Independent

Yingxia Liu

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Fuxiang Wang

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease; Southern University of Science and Technology - National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases

More...

Abstract

Background: Ongoing outbreak of coronavirus disease-19 (CoVID-19) results in fast increasing patient number in China and many other countries. Published articles on CoVID-19 had focused on reporting the characteristics of adults. The data of children is limited. We aimed to clarify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of CoVID-19 in children.

Methods: We prospectively followed up 31 confirmed cases < 18 years of age with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital between Jan 16, 2020, and Feb 19, 2020. All 31 cases were confirmed as having SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory tract specimens by real-time RT-PCR.The epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological profiles and treatment outcomes were analysed.

Findings: All 31 cases had no Huanan seafood market exposure. 29 (93.5%) children are in family clusters. 12 (38.7%) children had no symptoms. Fever were observed in 14 (45.2%) children. The duration of fever was 1–9 days (median:2 [IQR 1-3]). There were 13 (41.9%) cases had cough. Lymphocytes above the normal range were seen in 17 children, and lymphocytes below the normal range were not seen. 12 (38.7%) children exhibited elevated lactate dehydrogenase levels. Increase of erythocyte sedimentation rate were seen in 10 (32.3%) patients. Chest CT image were normal in 20 (64.5%) cases, one of which become unilateral pneumonia later in clinical course. 8 (25.8%) patients showed unilateral pneumonia and 1 patient progress for bilateral pneumonia (Table 4.). 3 (9.7%) patients had bilateral pneumonia. 23 (74.2%) children had been discharged. The other children are afebrile, and their clinical symptoms are decreasing in severity.

Interpretation: Children are susceptible to infection by SARS-CoV-2. Our preliminary findings show that children develop a milder form of the disease with a less-aggressive clinical course than do adults.

Funding Statement: The authors stated: "None."

Declaration of Interests: The authors stated that no other disclosures were reported.

Ethics Approval Statement: The study was approved by The Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital Ethics Committee.

Suggested Citation

Chen, Chuming and Cao, Mengli and Peng, Ling and Guo, Xiaoyan and Yang, Fangji and Wu, Weibo and Chen, Li and Yang, Yang and Liu, Yingxia and Wang, Fuxiang, Coronavirus Disease-19 Among Children Outside Wuhan, China (2/25/2020). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3546071 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.3546071

Chuming Chen

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Shenzhen
China

Mengli Cao

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Shenzhen
China

Ling Peng

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Shenzhen
China

Xiaoyan Guo

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Guangdong
China

Fangji Yang

Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) - Department of Infectious Diseases

Guangdong
China

Weibo Wu

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease

Shenzhen
China

Li Chen

Independent

Yang Yang

Independent

Yingxia Liu

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease ( email )

Shenzhen
China

Fuxiang Wang (Contact Author)

Southern University of Science and Technology - State Key Discipline of Infectious Disease ( email )

Shenzhen
China

Southern University of Science and Technology - National Clinical Research Center for Infectious Diseases ( email )