SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series
At the beginning of the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Italy was one of the most affected countries in Europe. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is less frequent and less severe in children than in adults. This study analyzed the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 in...
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doaj-fb46771b46d446bfa0a9ad92808ef8d72020-11-25T03:21:41ZengMDPI AGInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health1661-78271660-46012020-08-01176080608010.3390/ijerph17176080SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case SeriesDaniela Loconsole0Desirèe Caselli1Francesca Centrone2Caterina Morcavallo3Silvia Campanella4Maurizio Aricò5Maria Chironna6Department of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyPediatric Infectious Diseases, Giovanni XXIII Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyCOVID Emergency Task Force, Giovanni XXIII Children Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria Consorziale Policlinico, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyDepartment of Biomedical Sciences and Human Oncology-Hygiene Section, University of Bari, Piazza G. Cesare 11, 70124 Bari, ItalyAt the beginning of the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Italy was one of the most affected countries in Europe. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is less frequent and less severe in children than in adults. This study analyzed the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection among all children aged <18 years in the Apulia region of southern Italy and the characteristics of the infected children. Clinical and demographic data were collected through the national platform for COVID-19 surveillance. Of the 166 infected children in the Apulia region, 104 (62.6%) were asymptomatic, 37 (22.3%) had mild infections, 22 (13.3%) had moderate infections, and 3 (1.8%) had severe infections. Only ten children (6.0%) were hospitalized, but none required intensive care support and none died. SARS-CoV-2 infection was transmitted mainly from parents or relatives to children. Because of school closure during the lockdown, infection was unlikely to have been transmitted among children. It is unclear whether school reopening would enhance virus spread, leading the Italian government to develop guidelines for safe school reopening. The actual role of children in virus transmission remains unclear. A sensitive surveillance system, prompt identification of cases, testing, and contact tracing will be key to reducing the further spread of infection.https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6080COVID-19childrenSARS-CoV-2epidemiologysurveillancehealth policy |
collection |
DOAJ |
language |
English |
format |
Article |
sources |
DOAJ |
author |
Daniela Loconsole Desirèe Caselli Francesca Centrone Caterina Morcavallo Silvia Campanella Maurizio Aricò Maria Chironna |
spellingShingle |
Daniela Loconsole Desirèe Caselli Francesca Centrone Caterina Morcavallo Silvia Campanella Maurizio Aricò Maria Chironna SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health COVID-19 children SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology surveillance health policy |
author_facet |
Daniela Loconsole Desirèe Caselli Francesca Centrone Caterina Morcavallo Silvia Campanella Maurizio Aricò Maria Chironna |
author_sort |
Daniela Loconsole |
title |
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series |
title_short |
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series |
title_full |
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series |
title_fullStr |
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series |
title_full_unstemmed |
SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in Southern Italy: A Descriptive Case Series |
title_sort |
sars-cov-2 infection in children in southern italy: a descriptive case series |
publisher |
MDPI AG |
series |
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health |
issn |
1661-7827 1660-4601 |
publishDate |
2020-08-01 |
description |
At the beginning of the coronavirus-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, Italy was one of the most affected countries in Europe. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is less frequent and less severe in children than in adults. This study analyzed the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection among all children aged <18 years in the Apulia region of southern Italy and the characteristics of the infected children. Clinical and demographic data were collected through the national platform for COVID-19 surveillance. Of the 166 infected children in the Apulia region, 104 (62.6%) were asymptomatic, 37 (22.3%) had mild infections, 22 (13.3%) had moderate infections, and 3 (1.8%) had severe infections. Only ten children (6.0%) were hospitalized, but none required intensive care support and none died. SARS-CoV-2 infection was transmitted mainly from parents or relatives to children. Because of school closure during the lockdown, infection was unlikely to have been transmitted among children. It is unclear whether school reopening would enhance virus spread, leading the Italian government to develop guidelines for safe school reopening. The actual role of children in virus transmission remains unclear. A sensitive surveillance system, prompt identification of cases, testing, and contact tracing will be key to reducing the further spread of infection. |
topic |
COVID-19 children SARS-CoV-2 epidemiology surveillance health policy |
url |
https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/17/6080 |
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