Clinical analysis of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in children
Authors: Zheng Guilang , Xie Chuxing , Liu Dongli , Ye Guojing , Chen Xiaoqian , Wang Pei , Zhou Yang , Liang Jiayi , Hong Dian , Shen Zhizhou , Yu Jinjin , Wang Yanhao , Meng Qiong , Zhang Yuxin , Jiang Suhua , Liu Guojun , Guo Yuxiong 
Published: April 2020

Background: The number of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) cases caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection has significantly increased, and the disease is rapidly spreading to all parts of the country and around the world. A retrospective study of children with SARS-CoV-2 provides a reference for the diagnosis and treatment of children during this epidemic.Methods: We retrospectively studied 12 cases of children with viral infection caused by SARS-CoV-2 admitted to 6 hospitals in Guangdong Province between January 25, 2020, and February 12, 2020, and analyzed the clinical features and outcomes of the patients.Results: A total of 12 children with SARS-CoV-2 infection from 6 hospitals were enrolled in the study; 6 were boys. The mean age was 9.8 ± 4.7 years, with a minimum age of 2 years and 10 months. The mean body weight was 37.3 ± 23.6 kg, with a minimum body weight of 13.0 kg. There were no severe cases or critical severe cases. There were 2 cases of mild pneumonia (16.7%), 7 cases of acute upper respiratory tract infection (58.3%), and 3 cases of latent infection (25.0%). In terms of symptoms, there were 7 cases of fever (58.3%), 5 cases of cough (41.7%), 3 cases of runny nose (25.0%), 2 cases of systemic fatigue and soreness (16.7%), and 4 cases of no symptoms (33.3%). Three patients (75.0%) showed decreased white blood cell (WBC) counts for their first complete blood count (CBC) after admission, and one patient (8.3%) had a low lymphocyte count. There were no obvious abnormalities in C-reactive protein (CRP, 1.53 ± 2.28 mg/l), procalcitonin (PCT, 0.21 ± 0.13 ng/ml), or coagulation function. No abnormalities were detected for creatine kinase (CK), creatine kinase-MB (CKMB), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and serum creatinine (Scr). Six cases (50.0%) were positive for Mycoplasma pneumoniae antibodies. 2 cases showed pulmonary exudative lesions on chest X-ray or computed tomography (CT). All children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time reverse-transcription–polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assays of throat swabs. 9 patients received antiviral treatment with lopinavir/ritonavir. All patients received symptomatic supportive treatment and were quarantined, and their conditions improved. There was no respiratory failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome, shock complications, or death observed for any case. All patients recovered and were discharged, with an average length of hospital stay of 14 days.Conclusions: This study with a small sample size suggests that all SARS-CoV-2-infected children had normal or reduced WBCs; however, fever was not as common as expected, and a decrease in lymphocyte count was rare. The clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children are mild, COVID⁃19 is rare, and the prognosis is good. But the presence of latent SARS-CoV-2 infection in children presents new challenges for effective clinical prevention and control.