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Ocular manifestations and viral shedding in tears of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019: a preliminary report.
Valente, Paola; Iarossi, Giancarlo; Federici, Matteo; Petroni, Sergio; Palma, Paolo; Cotugno, Nicola; De Ioris, Maria A; Campana, Andrea; Buzzonetti, Luca.
  • Valente P; Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy. Electronic address: paola.valente@opbg.net.
  • Iarossi G; Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • Federici M; Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • Petroni S; Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • Palma P; Academic Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), Unit of Perinatal Infection and Congenital Infectious Diseases, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • Cotugno N; Academic Department of Pediatrics (DPUO), Unit of Perinatal Infection and Congenital Infectious Diseases, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • De Ioris MA; Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • Campana A; Pediatric Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
  • Buzzonetti L; Ophthalmology Department, Bambino Gesù IRCCS Pediatric Hospital, Rome, Italy.
J AAPOS ; 24(4): 212-215, 2020 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-591750
ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

To evaluate ocular manifestations and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) prevalence in the tears of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

METHODS:

A total of 27 pediatric patients with confirmed COVID-19 infection hospitalized from March 16 to April 15, 2020, at the Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital were enrolled in the study. At admission, all patients showed ocular manifestations. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction from nasopharyngeal and conjunctival swabs were performed every 2-3 days before discharge.

RESULTS:

Of the 27 patients, 4 (15%) were asymptomatic, 15 (56%) showed respiratory symptoms, and 8 (30%) had gastrointestinal symptoms. At admission, nasopharyngeal swabs were positive for COVID-19 in all patients; on the second swabs, 7 children (26%) tested negative, and 20 remained positive for COVID-19. Ocular manifestations consistent with mild viral conjunctivitis were observed in 4 patients (15%). At first conjunctival swab, 3 patients (11%), 1 symptomatic and 2 asymptomatic for ocular infection, had positive findings for COVID-19; 2 became negative on the second test and 1 on the third.

CONCLUSIONS:

In our study cohort, ocular manifestations of COVID-19 seem to have had a milder clinical course in pediatric patients than in adults. Despite the low prevalence and rapid regression of viral presence in the conjunctiva, SARS-CoV-2 transmission through tears may be possible, even in patients without apparent ocular involvement.
Subject(s)

Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Tears / Eye Infections, Viral / Virus Shedding / Pandemics / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Infant, Newborn Language: English Journal: J AAPOS Journal subject: Ophthalmology / Pediatrics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article

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Full text: Available Collection: International databases Database: MEDLINE Main subject: Tears / Eye Infections, Viral / Virus Shedding / Pandemics / SARS-CoV-2 / COVID-19 Type of study: Cohort study / Experimental Studies / Observational study / Prognostic study Limits: Child / Child, preschool / Female / Humans / Infant / Male / Infant, Newborn Language: English Journal: J AAPOS Journal subject: Ophthalmology / Pediatrics Year: 2020 Document Type: Article