ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: This study aims to describe the observable symptoms of children with COVID-19 infection and analyze access to real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing among children seeking care in Yemen. METHOD: In the period of March 2020-February 2022, data were obtained from 495 children suspected to have been infected with COVID-19 (from a larger register of 5634 patients) from the Diseases Surveillance and Infection Control Department at the Ministry of Public Health and Population in Aden, Yemen. RESULTS: Overall, 21.4% of the children with confirmed COVID-19 infection were asymptomatic. Fever (71.4%) and cough (67.1%) were the most frequently reported symptoms among children, and children were less likely to have fever (p < 0.001), sore throat (p < 0.001) and cough (p < 0.001) compared to adults. A lower frequency of COVID-19-associated symptoms was reported among children with positive RT-PCR tests compared to children with negative tests. A lower rate of testing was conducted among children (25%) compared to adults (61%). Fewer tests were carried out among children years (11%) compared to other age groups (p < 0.001), for children from other nationalities (4%) compared to Yemeni children (p < 0.001) and for girls (21%) compared to boys (30%) (p 0.031). CONCLUSION: Understanding and addressing the cause of these disparities and improving guidelines for COVID-19 screening among children will improve access to care and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In Yemen, initial surveillance of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) focused primarily on patients with symptoms or severe disease. The full spectrum of the disease remains unclear. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first seroprevalence study performed in Yemen. METHODS: This cross-sectional investigation included 2001 participants from all age groups from four districts in Aden, southern Yemen. A multi-stage sampling method was used. Data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire, and blood samples were taken. Healgen COVID-19 IgG/IgM Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) Cassettes were used in all participants. All positive RDTs and 14% of negative RDTs underwent enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) testing (WANTAI SARS-CoV-2 Ab ELISA Kit) for confirmation. RESULTS: In total, 549 of 2001 participants were RDT positive and confirmed by ELISA, giving a prevalence of COVID-19 of 27.4%. The prevalence of immunoglobulin G was 25%. The prevalence of asymptomatic COVID-19 in the entire study group was 7.9%. The highest prevalence was observed in Al-Mansurah district (33.4%). Regarding sociodemographic factors, the prevalence of COVID-19 was significantly higher among females, housewives and subjects with a history of contact with a COVID-19 patient: 32%, 31% and 39%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study found high prevalence of COVID-19 in the study population. Household transmission was common.