ABSTRACT
Background: In Paraguay there has been a gradual and voluntary return to classes in a blended mode. Aim(s): To estimate the anti-SARS-CoV2 seroprevalence in schoolchildren and teachers. Method(s): Cross-sectional descriptive study, carried out between October 25 and November 5, 2021. Structured surveys were applied to schoolchildren and teachers from five schools, two in Asuncion and three in the Central Department. In addition, samples of fingerstick blood for antibody de-tection by rapid immunochromatographic test were obtained. Result(s): A total of 148 teachers and 966 schoolchildren were included, 12.4% of the schoolchildren had received the anti-COVID-19 vaccine, which represents 61.9% of the students qualified for vaccination. Among the teachers, 97.3% received the COVID-19 vaccine, 95.9% had the complete schedule, 34.5% of teachers and 3.9% of schoolchildren reported having had COVID-19. The seroprevalence with no vaccine status discrimination was 37.7% in schoolchildren and 91.9% in teachers. In unvaccinated schoolchildren, seroprevalence was 30.9% and in unvaccinated teachers 25.0%. Conclusion(s): The high anti-SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence reflects an important viral circulation in the community. Almost the entire teaching staff had the complete vaccination schedule, and more than half of the qualified students had received at least a dose. The high seropositivity in vaccinated is highlighted. It is recommended to continue with the preventive non-pharmacological measures and vaccination.Copyright © 2022, Sociedad Chilena de Infectologia. All rights reserved.
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Seroepidemiological studies can help to understand the dynamics of the infection by the type 2 severe acute respiratory syndrome virus (SARS-CoV-2) in the community. Objective(s): To determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 Ciudad del Este district of Alto Parana department in Paraguay. Method(s): Descriptive cross-sectional study based on population. A rapid immunochromatographic test was used for the detection of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG/IgM antibodies. 1043 households were surveyed between October 27 and November 21, 2020. Result(s): Of the 1978 participants, women prevailed (60.3 %), 39.6 % had secondary education, 32.9 % were engaged in commerce. The most frequent risk factors were hypertension (13.7%), overweight or obesity (16.4%) and diabetes mellitus (6.1%). A total of 415 people (21%) had symptoms compatible with COVID-19, with headache being the most frequent (10.8%), followed by anosmia (10.4%) and sore throat (10.1%). 15.4% of respondents said they had been in contact with a COVID-19 case. 10.8% of participants had undergone a laboratory test for the diagnosis of COVID-19, of them, 72 people (33.6%) reported a positive result. Seroprevalence was high, with one in five reporting symptoms compatible with COVID-19. Conclusion(s): Despite the high anti-COVID-19 seroprevalence, most residents had mild infection, the proportion of hospitalized patients was low, and no fatal cases were reported.Copyright © 2023, Editorial Ciencias Medicas. All rights reserved.