ABSTRACT
Objectives This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and burden of proxy-reported acute symptoms in children in the first 4 weeks after detection of a SARS-CoV-2 infection and factors associated with symptom burden. Methods Nationwide cross-sectional survey using parental proxy-report of symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection. In July 2021, a survey was sent to mothers of all Danish children aged 0-14 years with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR during the period January 2020 - July 2021. The survey included 17 acute symptoms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection and questions about comorbidities. Results Of 38,152 children with a positive SARS-CoV-2 PCR, 10,994 (28.8 %) responded. Median age was 10.2 (range 0.2-16.0) years and 51.8% were male. Among participants 54.2% (n=5,957) reported no symptoms, 43.7 % (n=4,807) reported mild symptoms, and 2.1 % (n=230) reported severe symptoms. Most common symptoms were fever (25.0 %), headaches (22.5 %) and sore throat (18.4 %). Asthma (OR 1.91 (95% CI 1.57;2.32) and 2.11 (1.36;3.28)), allergy (1.31 (1.14;1.52) and 1.70 (1.18;2.46)), eczema (1.43 (1.20;1.71) and 2.03 (1.38;2.97)), and OCD/anxiety/depression (2.06 (1.39;3.06) and 3.79 (1.80;7.97)) were associated with reporting higher symptom burden. Highest prevalence of symptoms was found among children aged 0-2 and 12-14 years. Conclusions Among SARS-CoV-2 positive children aged 0-14 years approximately half reported no acute symptoms within the first four weeks after a positive PCR. Most of symptomatic children reported mild symptoms. Several comorbidities were associated with reporting higher symptom burden.
ABSTRACT
This study investigated self-reported short- and long-term symptoms among adolescents receiving the BNT162b2 (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccine against SARS-CoV-2 and those who did not. A retrospective cohort study based on Danish national survey (collected between 20 July and 15 September 2021) and register data was conducted. Differences in short-term (<14 days) and long-term (>two months) symptoms were explored using logistic regression adjusted for confounders. A total of 747 vaccinated (first dose n = 326; second dose n = 421) and 6300 unvaccinated adolescents were included in analyses of short-term symptoms and 32 vaccinated and 704 unvaccinated adolescents in long-term symptom analyses. In the first 14 days after the first and second vaccine dose the most reported symptoms included headache and muscle or joint symptoms. In both vaccinated and unvaccinated adolescents, the 15-19-year-olds reported significantly higher proportions of all symptoms compared to the 12-14-year-olds. After the second vaccine dose vaccinated 12-14-year-olds reported significantly more headache in adjusted analyses (OR 2.20 (95% CI 1.24; 3.90)). Among the 15-19-year-olds, significantly more vaccinated adolescents reported gastrointestinal symptoms (1.38 (1.06; 1.81)), headache (1.66 (1.24; 2.22)), and tiredness (1.44 (1.08; 1.93)). No differences were found in long-term symptoms. Vaccinated adolescents reported significantly more short-term symptoms including headache, tiredness, and gastrointestinal symptoms after the second vaccine dose than unvaccinated adolescents. Long-term symptom results should be interpreted with caution due to limited sample size.
ABSTRACT
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate prevalence of self-reported symptom burden during the acute phase of SARS-CoV-2 infection and associated factors including sex differences. Methods: All Danish adolescents aged 15-18 years with laboratory confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between January 2020 and July 2021 were invited to participate. A survey covered the initial four weeks of SARS-CoV-2 infection and included questions regarding 17 symptoms associated with acute COVID-19, symptom burden and medical history. Statistical analyses included descriptive statistics and logistic regression. Findings: A total of 24,315 adolescents with SARS-CoV-2 infection were invited and 6630 (27.3%) completed the questionnaire. The median age was 17.6 years, and 58.4% (n = 3873) were female. No symptoms were reported by 33.8% (n = 2241), mild perceived symptom burden by 57.2%(n = 3775), and severe symptom burden by 9.0 % (n = 594). Two thirds (n = 2999) of the symptomatic participants reported a symptom duration of 1-10 days. The most prevalent symptoms included headaches 39.2% (n = 2597), a reduced sense of smell 36.2% (n = 2398), cough 31.6% (n = 2093), sore throat 31.1% (n = 2063), and a reduced sense of taste 31.1% (n = 2062). Adolescents at the age of 18 years had higher odds of reporting ≥6 symptoms OR1.47 (95%CI, 1.23-1.76), p < 0.0001 and adolescents 18+ years old had higher odds of reporting a severe symptom burden OR1.98 (95%CI, 1.43-2.73) compared to the 15years old adolescents. A history of OCD/anxiety/depression was associated with reporting ≥6 symptoms OR 1.67 (95%CI, 1.34-2.09), p < 0.0001 and a history of allergy and OCD/anxiety/depression reporting severe symptom burden OR 1.64 (95%CI, 1.35-1.99), p < 0.0001 and OR 1.75 (95%CI, 1.28-2.36), p = 0.0004. Females reported more symptoms than males; median of three (IQR 0-6) vs. a median of two (IQR 0-4) symptoms, p < 0.0001. Interpretation: Two in three experienced symptoms and the majority reported mild symptom burden. Headache, a reduced sense of smell and taste, cough and sore throat were most common. Female sex, asthma and previous Epstein-Barr virus were associated with more symptoms and higher symptom burden. Funding: The study was funded by the AP Møller Foundation. The research was investigator initiated. The study funder played no role in the study.