A comparative‐descriptive analysis of clinical characteristics in 2019‐coronavirus‐infected children and adults

• Published in: Journal of Medical Virology Vol. 92; no. 9; pp. 1596 - 1602
• Main Authors: Han, Ya‐nan, Feng, Zhan‐wei, Sun, Li‐na, Ren, Xiao‐xia, Wang, Hua, Xue, Yong‐ming, Wang, Yi, Fang, Ying
• Format: Journal Article Web Resource
• Language: English
• Published: United States John Wiley & Sons, Inc 01.09.2020; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc
• Subjects: 2019 novel coronavirus; Adolescent; Adult; Adults; Antiviral agents; Child; Child, Preschool; Children; Clinical Decision-Making; clinical manifestations; Comorbidity; comparative analysis; Coronaviridae; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; COVID-19 - diagnosis; COVID-19 - epidemiology; COVID-19 - therapy; COVID-19 - virology; Creatine; Creatine kinase; Diarrhea; differences between children and adults; Disease Management; Environmental Exposure; Fatigue; Female; Humans; Infant; Infections; Kinases; laboratory parameters; Leukocytosis; Leukopenia; Male; Medical records; Myalgia; Patients; Pneumonia; Respiratory diseases; Risk Factors; SARS-CoV-2 - physiology; Symptom Assessment; Viral diseases; Virology; Vomiting; Young Adult; differences between children and adults; comparative analysis; clinical manifestations; 2019 novel coronavirus; laboratory parameters
• ISSN: 0146-6615; 1096-9071
• DOI: 10.1002/jmv.25835

Acute respiratory disease caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (2019‐nCoV) has rapidly spread throughout China. Children and adults show a different clinical course. The purpose of the current study is to comparatively analyze the clinical characteristics of 2019‐nCoV infection in children and adults and to explore the possible causes for the discrepancies present. The medical records of 25 adults and 7 children confirmed cases of 2019‐2019‐nCoV acute respiratory diseases were reviewed retrospectively. All children were family clusters. The total adult patients were differentiated into the local residents of Wuhan, a history of travel to Wuhan and direct contact with people from Wuhan. The numbers were 14 (56%), 10 (40%), and 1 (4%), respectively. The median incubation period of children and adults was 5 days (ranged, 3‐12 days) and 4 days (ranged, 2‐12 days), respectively. Diarrhoea and/or vomiting (57.1%) were demic by World Health Organiza more common in children, whereas for adults it was myalgia or fatigue (52%). On admission, the percentage of children having pneumonia (5%, 71.4%) was roughly the same as adults (20%, 80%). A total of 20% of adults had leucopoenia, but leukocytosis was more frequently in children (28.6%, P=.014). A higher number of children had elevated creatine kinase isoenzyme (57.1% vs 4%, P=.004). Antiviral therapy was given to all adult patients but to none of the children. In summary, knowledge of these differences between children and adults will not only be helpful for the clinical diagnosis of 2019‐nCoV disease, but also for a future discussion on age‐specific coronavirus infection. Highlights The routes of infection were more diverse in adults than children. Diarrhoea and/or vomiting were more common in children, whereas for adults it was myalgia or fatigue. More adults had leucopoenia, but leukocytosis was more frequently in children. A higher number of children had elevated creatine kinase isoenzyme. The percentage of children having pneumonia was roughly the same as adults.