Antoni Soriano-Arandes (Spain)

Hospital Universitari Vall d'Hebron Paediatric Infectious DIseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit
Consultant in Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Paediatric Infectious Diseases and Immunodeficiencies Unit -- Centre de Salut Internacional i Malalties Transmissibles Drassanes-Vall d'Hebron. Hospital Universitari Vall Hebron, Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain). 2017. PhD with the thesis: “Influence of the migratory changes in the epidemiology of the HIV mother-to-child transmission in Catalonia (2000-2014)” 2010. MSc of Epidemiology. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. University of London (UK). 2005. Master of Tropical Medicine and International Health. Universitat de Barcelona (Catalonia, Spain).

Presenter of 1 Presentation

 Conference Calendar

HOUSEHOLD SARS-COV-2 TRANSMISSION AND CHILDREN: A NETWORK PROSPECTIVE STUDY (ID 337)

Session Name
2190 - PARALLEL SYMPOSIUM 04: SARS-COV-2 PREVENTION OF SPREAD (ID 63)
Lecture Time
09:36 - 09:43
Room
Hall 04
Presenter

Abstract

Background

The role of children in household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains uncertain. The COPEDI-CAT project, with more than 120 pediatricians from 71 primary health centers and public and private hospitals, was launched at the end of the first COVID-19 pandemic wave aiming to describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with COVID-19 in Catalonia (Spain) and investigate the dynamics of household transmission.

Methods

Prospective, observational, multicenter study performed during summer and school periods (1 July-31 October, 2020), in which epidemiological and clinical features, and viral transmission dynamics were analyzed in COVID-19 patients <16 years. A pediatric index case was established when a child was the first individual infected within a household. Secondary cases were defined when another household member tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before the child. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated, and logistic regression was used to assess associations between transmission risk factors and SARS-CoV-2 infections.

Results

The study included 1040 COVID-19 patients <16 years. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, and 2.6% required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. Viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%). More than 70% (756/1040) of pediatric cases were secondary to an adult, whereas 7.7% (80/1040) were index cases. The SAR was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (p=0.02), and when compared to adults (p=0.006) (figure). No individual or environmental risk factors associated with the SAR were identified.

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Conclusions

Children are unlikely to cause household COVID-19 clusters or be major drivers of the pandemic even if attending school. Interventions aimed at children are expected to have a small impact on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Clinical Trial Registration

no clinical trial registration

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