TY - JOUR
T1 - Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children
T2 - A prospective multicentre cohort study
AU - Waterfield, Thomas
AU - Watson, Chris
AU - Moore, Rebecca
AU - Ferris, Kathryn
AU - Tonry, Claire
AU - Watt, Alison
AU - McGinn, Claire
AU - Foster, Steven
AU - Evans, Jennifer
AU - Lyttle, Mark David
AU - Ahmad, Shazaad
AU - Ladhani, Shamez
AU - Corr, Michael
AU - McFetridge, Lisa
AU - Mitchell, Hannah
AU - Brown, Kevin
AU - Amirthalingam, Gayatri
AU - Maney, Julie Ann
AU - Christie, Sharon
N1 - Funding Information:
Funding This work was supported by HSC R&D Division, Public Health Agency Ref: COM/5596/20. This funding source had no role in the design of this study and will not have any role during its execution, analyses, interpretation of the data or decision to submit the result.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 Archives of Disease in Childhood
PY - 2021/7/1
Y1 - 2021/7/1
N2 - Background Studies based on molecular testing of oral/nasal swabs underestimate SARS-CoV-2 infection due to issues with test sensitivity, test timing and selection bias. The objective of this study was to report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, consistent with previous infection. Design This multicentre observational cohort study, conducted between 16 April to 3 July 2020 at 5 UK sites, recruited children of healthcare workers, aged 2-15 years. Participants provided blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and data were gathered regarding unwell contacts and symptoms. Results 1007 participants were enrolled, and 992 were included in the final analysis. The median age of participants was 10·1 years. There were 68 (6.9%) participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests indicative of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these, 34/68 (50%) reported no symptoms prior to testing. The presence of antibodies and the mean antibody titre was not influenced by age. Following multivariable analysis four independent variables were identified as significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity: known infected household contact OR=10.9 (95% CI 6.1 to 19.6); fatigue OR=16.8 (95% CI 5.5 to 51.9); gastrointestinal symptoms OR=6.6 (95% CI 3.0 to 13.8); and changes in sense of smell or taste OR=10.0 (95% CI 2.4 to 11.4). Discussion Children demonstrated similar antibody titres in response to SARS-CoV-2 irrespective of age. Fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in sense of smell or taste were the symptoms most strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity. Trial registration number NCT0434740.
AB - Background Studies based on molecular testing of oral/nasal swabs underestimate SARS-CoV-2 infection due to issues with test sensitivity, test timing and selection bias. The objective of this study was to report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, consistent with previous infection. Design This multicentre observational cohort study, conducted between 16 April to 3 July 2020 at 5 UK sites, recruited children of healthcare workers, aged 2-15 years. Participants provided blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and data were gathered regarding unwell contacts and symptoms. Results 1007 participants were enrolled, and 992 were included in the final analysis. The median age of participants was 10·1 years. There were 68 (6.9%) participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests indicative of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these, 34/68 (50%) reported no symptoms prior to testing. The presence of antibodies and the mean antibody titre was not influenced by age. Following multivariable analysis four independent variables were identified as significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity: known infected household contact OR=10.9 (95% CI 6.1 to 19.6); fatigue OR=16.8 (95% CI 5.5 to 51.9); gastrointestinal symptoms OR=6.6 (95% CI 3.0 to 13.8); and changes in sense of smell or taste OR=10.0 (95% CI 2.4 to 11.4). Discussion Children demonstrated similar antibody titres in response to SARS-CoV-2 irrespective of age. Fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in sense of smell or taste were the symptoms most strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity. Trial registration number NCT0434740.
KW - epidemiology
KW - virology
KW - EPIDEMIOLOGY
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85096041823&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320558
DO - 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320558
M3 - Article
C2 - 33172887
AN - SCOPUS:85096041823
SN - 0003-9888
VL - 106
SP - 680
EP - 685
JO - Archives of Disease in Childhood
JF - Archives of Disease in Childhood
IS - 7
ER -