Epidemiological characteristics of 107 pediatric partients with COVID-19 during the initial phase of the outbreak / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To describe the epidemiological characteristics and clinical manifestations of the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in pediatric patients, and to provide data support and decision-making basis for the prevention and control of COVID-19.@*Methods@#Cases of children aged 0-17 years reported by provincial health commissions in Anhui, Shandong, Zhejiang and Henan provinces were collected to analyze their spatial, temporal, and demographic distribution.@*Results@#By 2400 on February 6, 2020, a total of 107 pediatric patients had been reported in the four provinces, accounting for 3.8% (107/2 808) of the total cases reported in the four provinces during the same period. Anhui, Shandong, Zhejiang and Henan provinces had 25, 25, 28 and 29 cases, respectively. Cases ranged in age from 5 days after birth to 17 years, with a median age of 8 years. Boys accounted for 58.9%. Totally 38 cases had a history of sojourn in Wuhan or Hubei, 63 cases had a history of exposure to confirmed cases, and 6 cases with unknown exposure history. A group of 52 family clustering were found in 107 cases. All cases presented mild symptoms, no serious and no death.@*Conclusion@#Children were also susceptible to the COVID-19. Before February 2, the index pediatric cases were mainly the first generation cases, and after February 3, these pediatric cases were mainly the secondary-generation cases and those who had close contact with confirmed cases. The monitoring of children with secondgeneration cases and close contact with COVID-19 cases were valued.