Frequency and burden of disease for SARS-CoV-2 and other viral
respiratory tract infections in children under the age of 2 months
Abstract
Objective: To evaluate the frequency and burden of disease of
SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses in children under the age of 2
months. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional,
single-center study was conducted between March 2021, and February 2022.
All children under the age of 2 months and tested for SARS-CoV-2 were
included. The frequency of SARS-CoV-2, of other respiratory viruses and
the burden of disease caused by SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses
were evaluated. Results: 727 children with an RT-PCR test for
SARS-CoV-2 were included (mean age: 0.9 months (±0.6); boys: 57%); 514
(71%) in the emergency room and 213 (29%) in hospital. Among them, 62
(8.5%) had a positive RT-PCR test for SARS-CoV-2, more often in the
Omicron period (23%) than in the Alpha period (4%). Of the 565 (78%)
with a multiplex RT-PCR test for other viruses, 325 (58%) were
positive. Children with a positive SARS-CoV-2 were less likely to have
required respiratory support (p=.001), enteral nutrition (p=.03), or
intensive care admission (p=.01) and had a shorter hospital stay than
children with other respiratory viruses (5d vs. 7d, p=.007).
Conclusion: In this young population of children, SARS-CoV-2
infection was less frequent and less severe than other viral respiratory
infections.