Clinical features and outcomes of seven patients with COVID-19 in a family cluster

• Main Authors: Yiling Zhang, Cheng Zhang, Ying Hu, Hongmei Yao, Xianchun Zeng, Changrong Hu, Li Zhao, Xiangyan Zhang, Xianwei Ye
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMC 2020-09-01
• Series: BMC Infectious Diseases
• Subjects: Clinical features; SARS-CoV-2; COVID-19,family cluster; Case report
• Online Access: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12879-020-05364-1

Abstract Background The family cluster is one of most important modes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) transmission throughout China, and more details are needed about how family clusters cause the spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Case presentation We retrospectively reviewed 7 confirmed cases from one family cluster. Both clinical features and laboratory examination results were described. Patient 1 had been in close contact with someone who was later confirmed to have COVID-19 in Wuhan City before he returned back to his hometown. He had dinner with 6 other members in his family. All the persons developed COVID-19 successively except for one older woman who neither had dinner with them nor shared a sleeping room with her husband. Six patients had mild or moderate COVID-19 but one older man with underlying diseases progressed into the severe type. After general and symptomatic treatments, all the patients recovered. Conclusions In a family cluster, having dinner together may be an important mode for the transmission of SARS-CoV-2. In this setting, most cases are mild with a favorable prognosis, while elderly patients with underlying diseases may progress into the severe type. For someone who has close contact with a confirmed case, 14-day isolation is necessary to contain virus transmission.