Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and identify the occurrence of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) during follow-up. Methods: We retrospectively retrieved data from pediatric patients with COVID-19 from the Shenzhen Third People’s Hospital in China. The dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed during hospitalization and after discharge. Results: From January 23 to March 15, 2020, a total of 28 pediatric patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 and were followed for at least 1 month. The median age was 7 years (IQR 3.5–10) and none of the children progressed to severe COVID-19 during hospitalization. Ten patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 1 month after discharge while four patients tested positive during the 2nd month after discharge. Only three of 12 children showed detectable immunoglobulin-M (IgM) on day 5, 18, and 21 after illness onset, respectively. Conclusions: COVID-19 disease was relatively mild among children while a number did test positive after discharge from the hospital. Public health initiatives should thus adapt control measures targeted toward children.
【저자키워드】 antibody, pediatric, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), Clinical features, Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), 【초록키워드】 COVID-19, coronavirus disease, SARS-CoV-2, IgM, severe COVID-19, Hospitalization, Clinical characteristics, children, hospital, viral shedding, discharge, COVID-19 disease, China, Health, Patient, Mild, Follow-up, Coronavirus-2, acute respiratory syndrome, Pediatric patient, Shenzhen, median age, measure, illness onset, positive, Public, Occurrence, tested, analyzed, identify, detectable, diagnosed with COVID-19, IQR, progressed, retrieved, with COVID-19, 【제목키워드】 COVID-19, China, clinical, longitudinal, change, Shenzhen,