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Kulkarni D, Ismail NF, Zhu F, Wang X, del Carmen Morales G, Srivastava A, Allen KE, Spinardi J, Rahman AE, Kyaw MH, Nair H. Epidemiology and clinical features of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents in the pre-Omicron era: A global systematic review and meta-analysis. J Glob Health 2024; 14:05003. [PMID: 38419461 PMCID: PMC10902805 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.05003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Methods We searched MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health, CINAHL, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, CQvip, and the World Health Organization (WHO) COVID-19 global literature databases for primary studies recruiting children aged ≤18 years with a diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed either by molecular or antigen tests. We used the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools to appraise the study quality and conducted meta-analyses using the random effects model for all outcomes except for race/ethnicity as risk factors of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results We included 237 studies, each reporting at least one of the study outcomes. Based on data from 117 studies, the pooled SARS-CoV-2 positivity rate was 9.30% (95% confidence interval (CI) = 7.15-11.73). Having a comorbidity was identified as a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 infection (risk ratio (RR) = 1.33; 95% CI = 1.04-1.71) based on data from 49 studies. Most cases in this review presented with mild disease (n = 50; 52.47% (95% CI = 44.03-60.84)). However, 20.70% of paediatric SARS-CoV-2 infections were hospitalised (67 studies), 7.19% required oxygen support (57 studies), 4.26% required intensive care (93 studies), and 2.92% required assisted ventilation (63 studies). The case fatality ratio (n = 119) was 0.87% (95% CI = 0.54-1.28), which included in-hospital and out-of-hospital deaths. Conclusions Our data showed that children were at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infections and severe outcomes in the pre-Omicron era. These findings underscore the need for effective vaccination strategies for the paediatric population to protect against the acute and long-term sequelae of COVID-19. Registration PROSPERO: CRD42022327680.
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Affiliation(s)
- Durga Kulkarni
- Centre for Global Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Nabihah Farhana Ismail
- Centre for Global Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Communicable Disease Control Unit, Public Health Department, Johor State, Malaysia
| | - Fuyu Zhu
- Schol of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Schol of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China
| | | | | | | | | | - Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman
- Centre for Global Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Diseases Research, Bangladesh
| | | | - Harish Nair
- Centre for Global Health, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
- Schol of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, China
- MRC/Wits Rural Public Health and Health Transitions Research Unit (Agincourt), School of Public Health, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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Goh M, Joy C, Gillespie AN, Soh QR, He F, Sung V. Asymptomatic viruses detectable in saliva in the first year of life: a narrative review. Pediatr Res 2024; 95:508-531. [PMID: 38135726 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-023-02952-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 11/15/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Viral infections are common in children. Many can be asymptomatic or have delayed health consequences. In view of increasing availability of point-of-care viral detection technologies, with possible application in newborn screening, this review aimed to (1) identify potentially asymptomatic viruses detectable in infants under one year old, via saliva/nasopharyngeal swab, and (2) describe associations between viruses and long-term health conditions. We systematically searched Embase(Ovid), Medline(Ovid) and PubMed, then further searched the literature in a tiered approach. From the 143 articles included, 28 potentially asymptomatic viruses were identified. Our second search revealed associations with a range of delayed health conditions, with most related to the severity of initial symptoms. Many respiratory viruses were linked with development of recurrent wheeze or asthma. Of note, some potentially asymptomatic viruses are linked with later non-communicable diseases: adenovirus serotype 36 and obesity, Enterovirus-A71 associated Hand, Foot, Mouth Disease and Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Ebstein Barr Virus (EBV) and malignancy, EBV and multiple sclerosis, HHV-6 and epilepsy, HBoV-1 and lung fibrosis and Norovirus and functional gastrointestinal disorders. Our review identified many potentially asymptomatic viruses, detectable in early life with potential delayed health consequences, that could be important to screen for in the future using rapid point-of-care viral detection methods. IMPACT: Novel point-of-care viral detection technologies enable rapid detection of viruses, both old and emerging. In view of increasing capability to screen for viruses, this is the first review to explore which potentially asymptomatic viruses, that are detectable using saliva and/or nasopharyngeal swabs in infants less than one year of age, are associated with delayed adverse health conditions. Further research into detecting such viruses in early life and their delayed health outcomes may pave new ways to prevent non-communicable diseases in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melody Goh
- Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, VIC, Australia
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Charissa Joy
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Monash Children's Hospital Clayton, Clayton, VIC, Australia
| | - Alanna N Gillespie
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Centre for Community Child Health, The Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Qi Rui Soh
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Medicine Dentistry and Health Sciences Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Fan He
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- John Richards Centre for Rural Ageing Research, La Trobe University, Wodonga, VIC, Australia
| | - Valerie Sung
- Prevention Innovation, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
- Monash Children's Hospital Clayton, Clayton, VIC, Australia.
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
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Timur D, Demirpek U, Demirbaş BC, Türe E, Korkmaz MF, Timur A. Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Pediatric Emergency Room: The Dilemma of Cycle Threshold Value. J PEDIAT INF DIS-GER 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1758743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective The havoc caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic could not have been predicted, with children being affected worldwide. Testing for SARS-CoV-2 infection helped to define the interventions against the spread of the disease. A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test has been the mainstay of diagnostic testing. Cycle threshold (Ct) is a semiquantitative value that indicates approximately how much viral genetic material was in the sample. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of Ct values among children with SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Methods Between May 3, 2020 and August 3, 2020, clinical laboratory input and the data of patients with positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were retrospectively studied.
Results There was no statistical significance between Ct values and the patient's status, symptoms other than fever, or other laboratory findings. However, the Ct value of patients who had symptoms at the time of admission to the hospital was significantly lower.
Conclusion In this study, symptomatic patients had lower Ct than asymptomatic patients that reflected higher viral loads. In evidence-based medicine applications, it might be useful to correlate the clinical history with laboratory test results. Even symptomatic patients with high Ct value coinfections, or an alternative acute infection, should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Demet Timur
- Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Ugur Demirpek
- Medical Microbiology Laboratory, Department of Laboratory Medicine, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | | | - Esra Türe
- Division of Pediatric Emergency Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Bursa City Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | | | - Ahmet Timur
- Bursa City Department of Health, Bursa, Turkey
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Alhumaid S, Alabdulqader M, Al Dossary N, Al Alawi Z, Alnaim AA, Al Mutared KM, Al Noaim K, Al Ghamdi MA, Albahrani SJ, Alahmari AA, Al Hajji Mohammed SM, Almatawah YA, Bayameen OM, Alismaeel AA, Alzamil SK, Alturki SA, Albrahim ZR, Al Bagshi NA, Alshawareb HY, Alhudar JA, Algurairy QA, Alghadeer SM, Alhadab HA, Aljubran TN, Alabdulaly YA, Al Mutair A, Rabaan AA. Global Coinfections with Bacteria, Fungi, and Respiratory Viruses in Children with SARS-CoV-2: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Trop Med Infect Dis 2022; 7:380. [PMID: 36422931 PMCID: PMC9698370 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed7110380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2022] [Revised: 11/01/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Coinfection with bacteria, fungi, and respiratory viruses has been described as a factor associated with more severe clinical outcomes in children with COVID-19. Such coinfections in children with COVID-19 have been reported to increase morbidity and mortality. Objectives: To identify the type and proportion of coinfections with SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria, fungi, and/or respiratory viruses, and investigate the severity of COVID-19 in children. Methods: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched ProQuest, Medline, Embase, PubMed, CINAHL, Wiley online library, Scopus, and Nature through the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for studies on the incidence of COVID-19 in children with bacterial, fungal, and/or respiratory coinfections, published from 1 December 2019 to 1 October 2022, with English language restriction. Results: Of the 169 papers that were identified, 130 articles were included in the systematic review (57 cohort, 52 case report, and 21 case series studies) and 34 articles (23 cohort, eight case series, and three case report studies) were included in the meta-analysis. Of the 17,588 COVID-19 children who were tested for co-pathogens, bacterial, fungal, and/or respiratory viral coinfections were reported (n = 1633, 9.3%). The median patient age ranged from 1.4 months to 144 months across studies. There was an increased male predominance in pediatric COVID-19 patients diagnosed with bacterial, fungal, and/or viral coinfections in most of the studies (male gender: n = 204, 59.1% compared to female gender: n = 141, 40.9%). The majority of the cases belonged to White (Caucasian) (n = 441, 53.3%), Asian (n = 205, 24.8%), Indian (n = 71, 8.6%), and Black (n = 51, 6.2%) ethnicities. The overall pooled proportions of children with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 who had bacterial, fungal, and respiratory viral coinfections were 4.73% (95% CI 3.86 to 5.60, n = 445, 34 studies, I2 85%, p < 0.01), 0.98% (95% CI 0.13 to 1.83, n = 17, six studies, I2 49%, p < 0.08), and 5.41% (95% CI 4.48 to 6.34, n = 441, 32 studies, I2 87%, p < 0.01), respectively. Children with COVID-19 in the ICU had higher coinfections compared to ICU and non-ICU patients, as follows: respiratory viral (6.61%, 95% CI 5.06−8.17, I2 = 0% versus 5.31%, 95% CI 4.31−6.30, I2 = 88%) and fungal (1.72%, 95% CI 0.45−2.99, I2 = 0% versus 0.62%, 95% CI 0.00−1.55, I2 = 54%); however, COVID-19 children admitted to the ICU had a lower bacterial coinfection compared to the COVID-19 children in the ICU and non-ICU group (3.02%, 95% CI 1.70−4.34, I2 = 0% versus 4.91%, 95% CI 3.97−5.84, I2 = 87%). The most common identified virus and bacterium in children with COVID-19 were RSV (n = 342, 31.4%) and Mycoplasma pneumonia (n = 120, 23.1%). Conclusion: Children with COVID-19 seem to have distinctly lower rates of bacterial, fungal, and/or respiratory viral coinfections than adults. RSV and Mycoplasma pneumonia were the most common identified virus and bacterium in children infected with SARS-CoV-2. Knowledge of bacterial, fungal, and/or respiratory viral confections has potential diagnostic and treatment implications in COVID-19 children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saad Alhumaid
- Administration of Pharmaceutical Care, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Muneera Alabdulqader
- Pediatric Nephrology Specialty, Pediatric Department, Medical College, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nourah Al Dossary
- General Surgery Department, Alomran General Hospital, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36358, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zainab Al Alawi
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulrahman A. Alnaim
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Koblan M. Al Mutared
- Administration of Pharmaceutical Care, Ministry of Health, Najran 66255, Saudi Arabia
| | - Khalid Al Noaim
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 31982, Saudi Arabia
| | - Mohammed A. Al Ghamdi
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suha Jafar Albahrani
- Division of Diabetology, Family Medicine Department, College of Medicine, King Faisal University, Al-Ahsa 36364, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abdulaziz A. Alahmari
- Department of Pediatrics, King Fahad Hospital of the University, College of Medicine, Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University, Dammam 34212, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Yameen Ali Almatawah
- Division of Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Pediatric Department, Maternity and Children Hospital, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36422, Saudi Arabia
| | - Omar Musa Bayameen
- Public Health Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ahmed Abdulwhab Alismaeel
- Public Health Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Sherifah Khaled Alzamil
- Public Health Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Samiah Ahmad Alturki
- Public Health Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Zahra’a Radi Albrahim
- Public Health Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nasreen Ahmad Al Bagshi
- Public Health Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hesham Yousef Alshawareb
- Southern Sector, Primary Care Medicine, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Jaafar Abdullah Alhudar
- Regional Medical Supply, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36361, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Samirah Mansour Alghadeer
- Infection Prevention and Control Administration, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36421, Saudi Arabia
| | - Hassan Ali Alhadab
- Ambulatory Transportation Administration, Al-Ahsa Health Cluster, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36421, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Yousif Ahmad Alabdulaly
- Quality Assurance and Patient Safety Administration, Directorate of Health Affairs, Ministry of Health, Al-Ahsa 36441, Saudi Arabia
| | - Abbas Al Mutair
- Research Center, Almoosa Specialist Hospital, Al-Ahsa 36342, Saudi Arabia
- College of Nursing, Princess Norah Bint Abdulrahman University, Riyadh 11564, Saudi Arabia
- School of Nursing, Wollongong University, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
- Department of Nursing, Prince Sultan Military College, Dhahran 34313, Saudi Arabia
| | - Ali A. Rabaan
- Molecular Diagnostic Laboratory, Johns Hopkins Aramco Healthcare, Dhahran 31311, Saudi Arabia
- College of Medicine, Alfaisal University, Riyadh 11533, Saudi Arabia
- Department of Public Health/Nutrition, The University of Haripur, Haripur 22620, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan
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Hernández-Sampelayo T, Gómez-Pavón J, González Del Castillo J, Martín-Delgado MC, Martín Sánchez FJ, Martínez-Sellés M, Molero García JM, Moreno Guillén S, Rodríguez-Artalejo FJ, Ruiz-Galiana J, Cantón R, De Lucas Ramos P, García-Botella A, García-Lledó A, Calvo Rey P, Bouza E. COVID in Pediatric Age: an opinion paper. REVISTA ESPANOLA DE QUIMIOTERAPIA : PUBLICACION OFICIAL DE LA SOCIEDAD ESPANOLA DE QUIMIOTERAPIA 2022; 35:333-343. [PMID: 35287259 PMCID: PMC9333119 DOI: 10.37201/req/012.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2022] [Accepted: 02/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The incidence of COVID in pediatrics was underestimated during the first months of the pandemic due to the oligosymptomatic nature of the infection in many children and the scarcity of diagnostic tests applied to this population. It is now accepted that children are infected and transmit the disease in the same way as adults. On the contrary, children have less severe and less lethal COVID, probably due to a lower maturity of the child's immune system, a lower number of ACE2 receptors and the lower presence of comorbidities in this population group. The development of a multisystemic inflammatory syndrome after SARS-CoV-2 infection in children, despite its rarity, is a very serious condition that frequently requires intensive care. Other less severe post-COVID manifestations have been described in children but are not yet well defined. COVID has had and continues to have a significant psychological impact on the children themselves, on their caregivers and on the exacerbation of pre-existing psychiatric conditions. We apply adult therapeutic principles to children but with very low levels of evidence. Information on the tolerability of the available medications in this population group is still scarce. The mortality of COVID in children is very low and generally affects children with significant comorbidities. There are, at present, three vaccines licensed for pediatric use which are compatible with all other vaccines applicable to children. In these circumstances, there has been much speculation about the indication for vaccination in the pediatric age group, but given its good tolerance, there are clinical and ethical reasons that, in our opinion, justify it.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - E Bouza
- Servicio de Microbiología Clínica y Enfermedades Infecciosas del Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, Universidad Complutense. CIBERES. Ciber de Enfermedades Respiratorias. Madrid, Spain.
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