Prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Italian pediatric population: a regional seroepidemiological study

Abstract

Background Data on the effective burden of the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in pediatric population are very limited, mostly because of the higher rate of asymptomatic or paucisymptomatic cases among children. Updated data on COVID-19 prevalence are needed for their relevance in public health and for infection control policies. In this single-centre cross-sectional study we aimed to assess prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection through IgG antibodies detection in an Italian pediatric cohort. Methods The study was conducted in January 2021 among both inpatients and outpatients referring to Research Institute for Maternal and Child Health “Burlo Garofolo” in Trieste, Friuli Venezia-Giulia, Italy, who needed for blood test for any reason. Collected samples were sent to Italian National Institute of Health for analysis through chemiluminescent immunoassay (CLIA). Results One hundred sixty-nine patients were included in the study, with a median age of 10.5 ± 4.1 years, an equal distribution for sex (49.7% female patients), and a 55.6% prevalence of comorbidities. Prevalence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 trimeric Spike protein IgG antibodies was 9.5% (n = 16), with a medium titre of 482.3 ± 387.1 BAU/mL. Having an infected cohabitant strongly correlated with IgG positivity (OR 23.83, 95% CI 7.19–78.98, p < 0.0001), while a cohabitant healthcare worker wasn’t associated with a higher risk (OR 1.53, 95% CI 0.4–5.86, p 0.46). All of the 5 patients who had previously tested positive to a nasopharyngeal swab belonged to the IgG positive group, with a 3-month interval from the infection at most. Conclusion We assessed a 9.5% SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in a pediatric cohort from Friuli Venezia-Giulia region in January 2021, showing a substantial increase after the second peak of the pandemic occurred starting from October 2020, compared to 1% prevalence observed by National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) in July 2020.

Evolution of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Seroprevalence in Children and Factors Associated with Seroconversion: Results from a Multiple Time-Points Study in Friuli-Venezia Giulia Region, Italy

“…A first single time-point country-wide evaluation conducted at the end of the first peak in summer 2020 by the Italian National Institute of Statistics (ISTAT) highlighted a very low seroprevalence rate in the age group 0–17 years, ranging from 0.1% to 1.1% in North and Central Italy [ 5 ], but was not repeated afterwards. Other few studies were conducted, at either regional or local level [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ], consistently showing, in line with the existing literature from other countries [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 ], lower seroprevalence rates in children compared to adults. However, all seroprevalence studies conducted in children in Italy [ 5 , 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 ] only included a single time-point assessment.…”

“…In January 2021, in the context of a study called COVID-IMMUNO, we conducted in Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (FVG), in the Northeast of Italy, an assessment of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies among children, revealing a seroprevalence rate of 9.5% [ 15 ]. This paper reports the results of the second and third evaluation, conducted within the same project (COVID-IMMUNO), at subsequent time-points.…”

“…This paper reports the results of the second and third evaluation, conducted within the same project (COVID-IMMUNO), at subsequent time-points. In each evaluation, the same methods as the previous assessment [ 15 ] were used, with the primary aim to explore changes in the SARS-CoV2 IgG seroprevalence rate among children during the second and third wave of the pandemic in FVG. The secondary aim was to assess the socio-demographic factors independently associated with an IgG seroconversion.…”

Cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children in Germany, June 2020 to May 2021

“…Previous studies were temporally and regionally limited, as is often the case for surveys on the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2, especially in children 11 – 13 . Therefore, to date there are no comprehensive data available enabling to study temporal trends and potentially related factors of COVID-19 seroprevalence of children in Germany.…”

An Agent-Based Model to Support Infection Control Strategies at School

“…Schools are characterized by close-contact settings, with students spending many hours close to each other in confined and enclosed spaces. In addition, compared with adults, children and adolescents infected with SARS-CoV-2 tend to be more commonly asymptomatic or have mild, non-specific symptoms, escaping early identification and isolation and potentially favouring the spread of the virus both inside and outside the school (Comar et al 2021).…”