Some children may have the potential to transmit the coronavirus disease, or Covid-19, even if they have measurable antibodies in their system, said a new study that indicated that the immune response, by itself, may be inadequate to protect children. of the pandemic.
The study, conducted by physicians at Children’s National Hospital in Washington DC and published in The Journal of Paediatrics on Thursday, analyzed 6,369 children who were tested for Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19. , and 215 children who underwent antibody tests. between March 13 and June 21. Of these, 33 showed the presence of viruses and antibodies at the same time.
“With most viruses, when you start detecting antibodies, you no longer detect them. But with Covid-19, we are seeing both, ”said Burak Bahar, lead author of the study. “This means that children still have the potential to transmit the virus even if antibodies are detected.”
He warned that the mode of transmission of a virus, which exists in the presence of antibodies, remains unknown. A number of recent studies have indicated that antibodies can last in a patient’s system for between three and six months, although no conclusive evidence has emerged.
The researchers stressed that much was still unknown about the disease, especially at a time when many countries have pushed to open primary schools and kindergartens despite health experts warning that children were particularly susceptible to contracting the disease and pass it on to family members and others.
“Wearing face covers, social distancing, and personal hygiene are effective ways to slow the spread of this disease; however, these practices can be challenging in schools and similar settings that care for children. The antibody response, by itself, is not recommended to steer children away from precautions, ”Bahar told HT.
Data on Covid-19 deaths in India published on HT earlier this week showed that children were the least vulnerable group. But several other studies, notably one last week in JAMA Pediatrics, have concluded that children can shed the virus even if they are asymptomatic or for a long time after their symptoms are gone.
Researchers at Children’s National Hospital found that patients ages 6 to 15 took longer to clear the virus (median time 32 days) compared to patients ages 16-22 (median time 18 days). In the study, women in the 6 to 15-year-old age group took longer to clear the virus (44 days) than men (25.5 days for men). “The bottom line here is that we can’t let our guard down just because a child has antibodies or is no longer showing symptoms,” Bahar said.
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