COVID-19 in children: analysis of the first pandemic peak in England. Issue 12 (12th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ladhani, Shamez N; Amin-Chowdhury, Zahin; Davies, Hannah G; Aiano, Felicity; Hayden, Iain; Lacy, Joanne; Sinnathamby, Mary; de Lusignan, Simon; Demirjian, Alicia; Whittaker, Heather; Andrews, Nick; Zambon, Maria; Hopkins, Susan; Ramsay, Mary Elizabeth
• Is Part Of: Archives of disease in childhood. Volume 105:Issue 12(2020)
• Page Start: 1180
• Page End: 1185
• Publication Date: 2020-08-12
• Subjects: virology -- epidemiology; Children -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Infants -- Diseases -- Periodicals; 618.920005
• DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320042
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0003-9888

Abstract

Abstract : Objectives: To assess disease trends, testing practices, community surveillance, case-fatality and excess deaths in children as compared with adults during the first pandemic peak in England. Setting: England. Participants: Children with COVID-19 between January and May 2020. Main outcome measures: Trends in confirmed COVID-19 cases, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) positivity rates in children compared with adults; community prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 in children with acute respiratory infection (ARI) compared with adults, case-fatality rate in children with confirmed COVID-19 and excess childhood deaths compared with the previous 5 years. Results: Children represented 1.1% (1, 408/129, 704) of SARS-CoV-2 positive cases between 16 January 2020 and 3 May 2020. In total, 540 305 people were tested for SARS-COV-2 and 129, 704 (24.0%) were positive. In children aged <16 years, 35, 200 tests were performed and 1408 (4.0%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2, compared to 19.1%–34.9% adults. Childhood cases increased from mid-March and peaked on 11 April before declining. Among 2, 961 individuals presenting with ARI in primary care, 351 were children and 10 (2.8%) were positive compared with 9.3%–45.5% in adults. Eight children died and four (case-fatality rate, 0.3%; 95% CI 0.07% to 0.7%) were due to COVID-19. We found no evidence of excess mortality in children. Conclusions: Children accounted for a very small proportion of confirmed cases despite the large numbers of children tested. SARS-CoV-2 positivity was low even in children with ARI. Our findings provide further evidence against the role of children in infection and transmission of SARS-CoV-2.