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

Frontiers in Pediatrics

article

Ilaria Bottino¹  Laura Senatore¹  Barbara Madini¹  Maria C. Pensabene¹  Alessia Rocchi²  Maria F. Patria³  Gregorio P. Milani¹  Carlo Agostoni¹  Paola Marchisio¹  Mara Lelii³  Marco Alberzoni¹  Laura Dell'Era²  Massimo L. Castellazzi² 

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

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

DOI  :  10.3389/fped.2021.621019

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

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