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Clinical features of COVID-19 in Italian outpatient children and adolescents during Parental, Delta, and Omicron waves: a prospective, observational, cohort study

Authors :
Di Chiara, C
Boracchini, R
Sturniolo, G
Barbieri, A
Costenaro, P
Cozzani, S
De Pieri, M
Liberati, C
Zin, A
Padoan, A
Bonfante, F
Kakkar, F
Cantarutti, A
Dona, D
Giaquinto, C
Di Chiara C.
Boracchini R.
Sturniolo G.
Barbieri A.
Costenaro P.
Cozzani S.
De Pieri M.
Liberati C.
Zin A.
Padoan A.
Bonfante F.
Kakkar F.
Cantarutti A.
Dona D.
Giaquinto C.
Di Chiara, C
Boracchini, R
Sturniolo, G
Barbieri, A
Costenaro, P
Cozzani, S
De Pieri, M
Liberati, C
Zin, A
Padoan, A
Bonfante, F
Kakkar, F
Cantarutti, A
Dona, D
Giaquinto, C
Di Chiara C.
Boracchini R.
Sturniolo G.
Barbieri A.
Costenaro P.
Cozzani S.
De Pieri M.
Liberati C.
Zin A.
Padoan A.
Bonfante F.
Kakkar F.
Cantarutti A.
Dona D.
Giaquinto C.
Publication Year :
2023

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 features changed with the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 in adults. This study aims to describe COVID-19 symptoms in children and adolescents during the Parental, Delta, and Omicron eras Methods: A single-centre, prospective observational study was conducted on individuals aged 0–20 years attending the University Hospital of Padua (Italy) from April 2020 to December 2022. COVID-19 cases were defined by positive SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection and/or serology; patient/family symptoms and virological positivity were considered to determine the infection onset. Variables were summarized and compared using appropriate tests of descriptive statistics Results: A total of 509 cases [46% female, median age eight years (IQR: 4–12)] were studied. Three-hundred-eighty-seven (76%), 52 (10%), and 70 (14%) subjects experienced COVID-19 during the Parental, Delta, and Omicron waves, respectively. All subjects developed an asymptomatic/mild COVID-19. Overall, the most frequent symptoms were fever (47%) and rhinitis (21%), which showed a significant increasing incidence from the Parental to Omicron waves (p < 0.001). Conversely, diarrhea was most common during the pre-Omicron eras (p = 0.03). Stratifying symptoms according to the age group, fever, rhinitis, and skin rashes were observed more frequently among infants/toddlers; conversely, fatigue was more common in children older than five years. The duration of symptoms was similar across different SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs); conversely, the number of symptoms varied according to the age group (p < 0.0001) Discussion: This study showed differences in COVID-19 clinical presentation among infants, children, and adolescents and confirmed Omicron infection is more likely to be associated with upper respiratory symptoms. However, further population-based studies are needed to support these findings. In addition, active surveillance will play a crucial role in assessing the disease severity of future

Details

Database :
OAIster
Notes :
ELETTRONICO, English
Publication Type :
Electronic Resource
Accession number :
edsoai.on1427431451
Document Type :
Electronic Resource