Persistent symptoms in children and adolescents with and without anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies:

  

View ORCID ProfileRoxane Dumont,  View ORCID ProfileMayssam Nehme,  View ORCID ProfileElsa Lorthe,  View ORCID ProfileCarlos De Mestral,  View ORCID ProfileViviane Richard,  View ORCID ProfileJulien Lamour,  View ORCID ProfileHelene Baysson, Claire Semaani,  View ORCID ProfileFrancesco Pennacchio, Anne Perrin,  View ORCID ProfileArnaud H L'Huillier,  View ORCID ProfileKlara Posfay Barbe, Nick Pullen,  View ORCID ProfileMaria Eugenia Zaballa,  View ORCID ProfileIdris Guessous,  View ORCID ProfileSilvia Stringhini

doi: https://doi.org/10.1101/2021.12.23.21268298

This article is a preprint and has not been certified by peer review [what does this mean?]. It reports new medical research that has yet to be evaluated and so should not be used to guide clinical practice.

PDF: https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.23.21268298v1.full.pdf

Abstract

Background: It is now established that a significant proportion of adults experience persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection. However, evidence for children and adolescents is still inconclusive. In this population-based study, we examine the proportion of children and adolescents reporting persistent symptoms after SARS-CoV-2 infection, as assessed by serological status, and compare this to a seronegative control group. Methods: We conducted a serosurvey in June-July 2021, recruiting 660 children and adolescents from 391 households selected randomly from the Geneva population. We tested participants for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies targeting the nucleocapsid (N) protein to determine previous infection. A parent filled a questionnaire including questions on COVID-19-related symptoms lasting at least 2 weeks. Findings: Among children seropositive for anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, the sex- and age-adjusted prevalence of symptoms lasting longer than two weeks was 18.3%, compared to 11.1% among seronegative children (prevalence difference (ΔaPrev)=7.2%, 95%CI:1.5-13.0). Main symptoms declared among seropositive children were fatigue (11.5%) and headache (11.1%). For 8.6% (aPrev, 95%CI: 4.7-12.5) of seropositives, these symptoms were declared to be highly limiting of daily activities. Adolescents aged 12-17 years had a higher adjusted prevalence of persistent symptoms (aPrev=29.1%, 95%CI:19.4-38.7) than younger children. Comparing seropositive and seronegative adolescents, the estimated prevalence of symptoms lasting over four weeks is 4.4% (ΔaPrev, 95%CI:-3.8-13.6). Interpretation: A significant proportion of children aged 12 to 17 years had symptoms lasting over two weeks after SARS-CoV-2 infection, with an estimated prevalence of symptoms lasting over 4 weeks of 4.4% in this age group. This represents a large number of adolescents in absolute terms, and should raise concern in the context of unknown long-term evolution of symptoms. Younger children appear to experience long-lasting symptoms less frequently, as no difference was observed between the seropositive and seronegative sample. Further studies with larger samples sizes are needed.

Competing Interest Statement

The authors have declared no competing interest.

Funding Statement

Swiss Federal Office of Public Health, Geneva General Directorate of Health, HUG Private Foundation, Swiss School of Public Health, Fondation des Grangettes.

https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/2021.12.23.21268298v1