Can Asymptomatic or Non-Severe SARS-CoV-2 Infection Cause Medium-Term Pulmonary Sequelae in Children?

Frontiers in Pediatrics

Laura Senatore¹  Maria C. Pensabene¹  Ilaria Bottino¹  Marco Alberzoni¹  Barbara Madini¹  Gregorio P. Milani²  Alessia Rocchi²  Paola Marchisio³  Carlo Agostoni⁴  Laura Dell'Era⁵  Massimo L. Castellazzi⁵  Maria F. Patria⁶  Mara Lelii⁶ 

[1] Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;Pediatric Emergency Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy;Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy;Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy;Pediatric Intermediate Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy;Pediatric Emergency Department, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy;Pediatric Highly Intensive Care Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy;

关键词: COVID-19;    children;    follow-up;    complications;    pulmonary function;    ultrasound;    long COVID;    antibodies;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2021.621019

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Pulmonary complications in adults who recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported even in minimally symptomatic patients. In this study, lung ultrasound (LUS) findings and pulmonary function of children who recovered from an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated. We prospectively followed up for at least 30 days patients younger than 18 years who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan (Italy). All enrolled patients underwent LUS. Airway resistance measured by the interrupter technique test was assessed in subjects aged 4–6 years, whereas forced spirometry and measurement of diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide were performed in subjects older than 6 years. To evaluate a possible correlation between pulmonary alterations and immune response to SARS-CoV-2, two semiquantitative enzyme immune assays were used. We enrolled 16 out of 23 eligible children. The median age of enrolled subjects was 7.5 (0.5–10.5) years, with a male to female ratio of 1.7. No subject presented any abnormality on LUS, airway resistance test, forced spirometry, and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide. On the other hand, all subjects presented Ig G against SARS-CoV-2. In contrast in adults, we did not detect any pulmonary complications in our cohort. These preliminary observations suggest that children with an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection might be less prone to develop pulmonary complications than adults.

【 授权许可】

CC BY