COVID-19 in Chinese Children

An epidemiologic study of 2143 children in China with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 shows that children of all ages were affected, and disease was most severe in infants.

From January 16 to February 8, 2020, the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention identified COVID-19 infection in 2143 children ages 1 day to 18 years (median age, 7 years; 57% boys). Of these, 731 children had laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid diagnoses and 1412 had suspected COVID-19 based on clinical symptoms, clinical laboratory results, or both.

Overall, 4% of children were asymptomatic and 90% had mild or moderate disease. Of the remaining children, 5% had severe disease, with oxygen saturations <92%, and 0.6% (33 cases) had critical disease, with acute respiratory distress symptoms or respiratory failure and possibly other organ dysfunction, including one death in a 14-year-old boy. The highest incidence of severe…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

COVID-19 in Chinese Children

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Reviewing Author