Clinical Characteristics and Transmission of COVID-19 in Children and Youths During 3 Waves of Outbreaks in Hong Kong
Authors: Gilbert T. Chua, Joshua Sung Chih Wong, Ivan Lam, Polly Po Ki Ho, Wai Hung Chan, Felix Yat Sun Yau, Jaime S. Rosa Duque, Alvin Chi Chung Ho, Ka Ka Siu, Tammy W.Y. Cheung, David Shu Yan Lam, Victor Chi Man Chan, Kwok Piu Lee, Kwing Wan Tsui, Tak Wai Wong, Man Mut Yau, Tsz Yan Yau, Kate Ching Ching Chan, Michelle Wai Ling Yu, Chit Kwong Chow, Wah Keung Chiu, Kwok Chiu Chan, Wilfred H.S. Wong, Marco Hok Kung Ho, Winnie W.Y. Tso, Keith T.S. Tung, Christina S. Wong, Janette Kwok, Wing Hang Leung, Jason C. Yam, Ian C.K. Wong, Paul Kwong Hang Tam, Godfrey Chi Fung Chan, Chun Bong Chow, Kelvin K. W. To, Yu Lung Lau, Kwok Yung Yuen, Patrick Ip, Mike Yat Wah Kwan
Journal: JAMA Network Open (2021)

<h3>Importance</h3> Schools were closed intermittently across Hong Kong to control the COVID-19 outbreak, which led to significant physical and psychosocial problems among children and youths. <h3>Objective</h3> To compare the clinical characteristics and sources of infection among children and youths with COVID-19 during the 3 waves of outbreaks in Hong Kong in 2020. <h3>Design, Setting, and Participants</h3> This cross-sectional study involved children and youths aged 18 years or younger with COVID-19 in the 3 waves of outbreaks from January 23 through December 2, 2020. Data were analyzed from December 2020 through January 2021. <h3>Main Outcomes and Measures</h3> Demographic characteristics, travel and contact histories, lengths of hospital stay, and symptoms were captured through the central electronic database. Individuals who were infected without recent international travel were defined as having domestic infections. <h3>Results</h3> Among 397 children and youths confirmed with COVID-19 infections, the mean (SD) age was 9.95 (5.34) years, 220 individuals (55.4%) were male, and 154 individuals (38.8%) were asymptomatic. There were significantly more individuals who were infected without symptoms in the second wave (59 of 118 individuals [50.0%]) and third wave (94 of 265 individuals [35.5%]) than in the first wave (1 of 14 individuals [7.1%]) (<i>P</i> = .001). Significantly fewer individuals who were infected in the second and third waves, compared with the first wave, had fever (first wave: 10 individuals [71.4%]; second wave: 22 individuals [18.5%]; third wave: 98 individuals [37.0%];<i>P</i> &lt; .001) or cough (first wave: 6 individuals [42.9%]; second wave: 15 individuals [12.7%]; third wave: 52 individuals [19.6%];<i>P</i> = .02). Among all individuals, 394 individuals (99.2%) had mild illness. One patient developed chilblains (ie, COVID toes), 1 patient developed multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, and 1 patient developed post–COVID-19 autoimmune hemolytic anemia. In all 3 waves, 204 patients with COVID-19 (51.4%) had domestic infections. Among these individuals, 186 (91.2%) reported having a contact history with another individual with COVID-19, of which most (183 individuals [90.0%]) were family members. In the third wave, 18 individuals with domestic infections had unknown contact histories. Three schoolmates were confirmed with COVID-19 on the same day and were reported to be close contacts. <h3>Conclusions and Relevance</h3> This cross-sectional study found that nearly all children and youths with COVID-19 in Hong Kong had mild illness. These findings suggest that household transmission was the main source of infection for children and youths with domestic infections and that the risk of being infected at school was small.