More than 20 percent of children with COVID-19 are asymptomatic

(HealthDay) – A sizable proportion of children with confirmed COVID-19 remain asymptomatic, according to a study published online Aug. 28 in JAMA Pediatrics.

Mi Seon Han, MD, Ph.D., from Seoul National University School of Medicine in South Korea, and colleagues examined the full clinical course and duration of detectability of coronavirus 2 RNA (SARS-CoV -2) of severe acute respiratory syndrome in children confirmed with COVID-19 from South Korea. 91 children with confirmed COVID-19 were included.

The researchers found that there were 20 children (22 percent) who were asymptomatic throughout the observation period. Of the symptomatic cases, 66, 25, and 9 percent had unrecognized symptoms before diagnosis, developed symptoms after diagnosis, and were diagnosed at the time of symptom onset, respectively. Lower respiratory tract infections were reported among 22 children (24 percent). In samples from the upper respiratory tract, the mean duration of SARS-CoV-2 RNA presence was 17.6 days. In asymptomatic individuals, virus RNA was detected for a mean of 14.1 days. Duration of virus RNA detection did not differ between children with upper and lower respiratory tract infections (mean, 18.7 versus 19.9 days). Fourteen children received treatment with lopinavir-ritonavir and / or hydroxychloroquine. All cases recovered, with no fatalities.

“The potential role of children in transmitting disease in the community needs to be further clarified and strategies to contain COVID-19 should reflect its effects,” the authors write. “Increased surveillance through laboratory tests will allow detection in children with an unrecognized SARS-CoV-2 infection.”

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