Antibody Responses to SARS-CoV-2 in Children With COVID-19. Issue 6 (11th March 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Han, Mi Seon; Um, Jihye; Lee, Eun Joo; Kim, Kyung Min; Chang, Sung Hee; Lee, Hyunju; Kim, Ye Kyung; Choi, Youn Young; Cho, Eun Young; Kim, Dong Hyun; Choi, Jae Hong; Lee, Jina; Kim, Misuk; Chung, Ki-Hyun; Min, Hye Sook; Choe, Young June; Lim, Dong-Gyun; Park, Jun-Sun; Choi, Eun Hwa
• Is Part Of: Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society. Volume 11:Issue 6(2022)
• Page Start: 267
• Page End: 273
• Publication Date: 2022-03-11
• Subjects: antibody response -- children -- COVID-19 -- SARS-CoV-2; Communicable diseases in children -- Periodicals; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.929
• DOI: 10.1093/jpids/piac012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2048-7193

Abstract

Abstract: Background: The immunologic features of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are not clearly delineated. This study was conducted to evaluate SARS-CoV-2-specific antibody responses in children with COVID-19. Methods: The levels of anti-spike (S) IgG, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, and neutralizing antibody (NAb) were measured during various time points in children <19 years of age with COVID-19 in South Korea from February 2020 to September 2020. Results: One hundred sixty-five blood samples from 114 children with COVID-19 (43.9% asymptomatic and 56.1% mildly symptomatic) were analyzed. In both asymptomatic and mildly symptomatic children, the positive rates of anti-S IgG, anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, and NAb were low within 7 days after onset, but they soon reached 100% 14 to <28 days after onset. In symptomatic children, the geometric mean titers (GMTs) of antibodies were all below the positive cutoff during the first 2 weeks from onset and peaked at 28 to <56 days (5.6 for anti-S IgG, 383.6 for anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG, and 55.0 for NAb, P < .001, respectively). Antibody levels remained detectable up to 3 months after infection. The antibody GMTs during the period 14 to <56 days after symptom onset were highest in children aged 0-4 years. Conclusions: These results collectively present the humoral immune responses during SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. A further longitudinal study is needed to thoroughly understand the immune system and for effective vaccine development in children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Abstract : SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were detected from 7 days after onset in children with asymptomatic and mild COVID-19 and peaked at 28 to <56 days from onset. The antibodies remained detectable for at least 3 months with slight decreasing titers.