Abstract
Aim: It can be challenging to distinguish COVID-19 in children from other common infections. We set out to determine the rate at which children consulting a primary care paediatrician with an acute infection are infected with SARS-CoV-2 and to compare distinct findings.
Method: In seven out-patient clinics, children aged 0-13 years with any new respiratory or gastrointestinal symptoms and presumed infection were invited to be tested for SARS-CoV-2. Factors that were correlated with testing positive were determined. Samples were collected from 25 January 2021 to 01 April 2021.
Results: Seven hundred and eighty-three children participated in the study (median age 3 years and 0 months, range 1 month to 12 years and 11 months). Three hundred and fifty-eight were female (45.7%). SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected in 19 (2.4%). The most common symptoms in children with as well as without detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA were rhinitis, fever and cough. Known recent exposure to a case of COVID-19 was significantly correlated with testing positive, but symptoms or clinical findings were not.
Conclusion: COVID-19 among the children with symptoms of an acute infection was uncommon, and the clinical presentation did not differ significantly between children with and without evidence of an infection with SARS-CoV-2.
Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; influenza; out-patient paediatrics; respiratory tract infection.
【저자키워드】 COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Influenza, respiratory tract infection, out-patient paediatrics, 【초록키워드】 primary care, Influenza, children, Infection, respiratory tract infection, Symptom, cough, clinics, infections, Clinical findings, acute infection, Fever, female, SARS-CoV-2 RNA, respiratory, Evidence, evidence of, exposure to, Clinical finding, Factor, median age, positive, rhinitis, Gastrointestinal symptom, Seven, not differ, tested, collected, Sample, significantly, detectable, determine, correlated, infected with SARS-CoV-2, infection with SARS-CoV-2, participated, 【제목키워드】 children, Care, seeking,