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SEROPREVALENCE OF SARS-COV-2 IN CHILDREN IN DELHI, INDIA: A POPULATION BASED SEROEPIDEMIOLOGICAL STUDY
Abstract
Background
Globally, children and adolescents in absence of chronic underlying illnesses have been observed to experience less severe manifestations of the Covid-19 disease and low mortality hypothesized from multiple differential physiological mechanisms. However, there are growing public health concerns in India related to the extent of susceptibility in this hitherto unvaccinated and potentially vulnerable cohort.
Aims
To determine the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents and ascertain their predictors
Methods
This cross-sectional serosurvey included 4290 children aged 5-17 years and 23807 adults, and was conducted from January 11-22’ 2021. The participants were selected through a multi-stage sampling technique from all the 280 wards of the state of Delhi, India. Anti SARS CoV-2 IgG antibodies were detected by using the VITROS assay (90% Sn, 100% Sp).
Results
The seroprevalence of IgG SARS-CoV-2 in children was 52.8% (95% C.I. 51.3, 54.3) which was higher compared to adults (50.3%, 95% CI 49.7, 50.9). The assay adjusted seroprevalence in children was 53.5% (95% C.I. 51.7, 55.4). On adjusted analysis, older (15-17 years) aged compared to the younger children had significantly higher odds of infection (aOR 1.16 (0.97, 1.39)). However, child gender, presence of overcrowding, and the household income levels did not show statistically significant association with seropositivity. Among the participants with past history of laboratory diagnosed Covid-19 disease (n=102), 77 (75.5%) were also currently seropositive.
Conclusions
SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity was observed in more than one in two children. Comparable seroprevalence with adults indicates greater protection and discounts the possibility of children being disproportionately impacted during any future Covid-19 pandemic wave.