Publication:
Infectivity of adult and pediatric COVID-19 patients

Thumbnail Image

School / College / Institute

Organizational Unit
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF HEALTH SCIENCES
Upper Org Unit
Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
Organizational Unit
SCHOOL OF MEDICINE
Upper Org Unit

Program

KU Authors

Co-Authors

Publication Date

Language

Embargo Status

NO

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Alternative Title

Abstract

Objective: we aimed to describe the infectivity of adult and pediatric COVID-19 patients in the presence of viral shedding and anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody response. Materials and methods: a total of 408 consequent samples from eleven adults and five pediatric patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were included. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and viral culture were performed for the samples obtained every other day from saliva, nasopharynx, feces, serum, urine, and tear. Anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were measured. Results: the median duration of RNA shedding in all specimens was 7 (2-15) days in adults and 5 (3-19) days in children. The median duration from symptom onset to admission was three days. The viral RNA was positive in 44.7 % of the nasopharynx and 37.6% of saliva samples up to 16 days in adults and 19 days in children. We detected the latest viral culture positivity in the nasopharynx on day eight of symptoms. The viral RNA was found in 6.1% of feces, 4.4% of serum, 4.3 % of tear, 2.9% of urine. The earliest seroconversion was the seventh day for adults and the eighth day for children. On the 14th day, total antibody positivity was 78% in adults and 80% in children. After seroconversion, the viral RNA was still detected in the nasopharynx and saliva of three patients; however, the infectious virus was not present. Conclusion: the infectivity of a positive patient is low after eight days of symptoms. The risk of fecal-oral transmission is very low, and strict hand hygiene measures could be preventive.

Source

Publisher

Design Oriented Community (DOC)

Subject

Medicine

Citation

Has Part

Source

Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology

Book Series Title

Edition

DOI

10.36519/idcm.2021.61

item.page.datauri

Link

Rights

Copyrights Note

Endorsement

Review

Supplemented By

Referenced By

1

Views

3

Downloads

View PlumX Details