Clinical presentations of adult and pediatric SARS-CoV-2-positive cases in a community cohort, Nashville, Tennessee

AUTHORS

Rankin DA , Yanis A , Talj R , Howe HL , Bloos SM , Fernandez KN , Amarin JZ , Bruce M , Salib S , Hargrave S , Chappell JD , Spieker AJ , Halasa NB , Howard LM , . Journal of medical virology. 2022 7 11; ().

PMID: 35815457 [PubMed].

ABSTRACT

Compared to adults, the prevalence of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) illness in children has been lower and less severe. However, reports comparing SARS-CoV-2 infection among children and adults are limited. As part of our longitudinal cohort study of adults and children with SARS-CoV-2 infection and their household contacts in Nashville, Tennessee, we compared the clinical characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections between children and adults. Children were more likely to be asymptomatically infected and had a shorter illness duration compared to adults. The differences observed in clinical presentation across ages may inform symptom-specific testing, screening, and management algorithms.

Tags: alumni publications 2022