Fatal SARS-CoV-2 Infection among Children, Japan, January-September 2022

To determine the characteristics of pediatric patients 0–19 years of age who died after onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Japan during January 1–September 30, 2022, we reviewed multiple sources. We identified 62 cases, collected detailed information from medical records and death certificates, and co...

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Published inEmerging infectious diseases Vol. 30; no. 8; pp. 1589 - 1598
Main Authors Mitsushima, Shingo, Yahata, Yuichiro, Tsuchihashi, Yuuki, Ikenoue, Chiaki, Fukusumi, Munehisa, Otake, Shogo, Shimada, Tomoe, Yamagishi, Takuya, Kamiya, Hajime, Kobayashi, Yusuke, Kurosu, Hitomi, Okuyama, Mai, Morino, Saeko, Shibamura, Miho, Takanashi, Sayaka, Kamigaki, Taro, Otani, Kanako, Nakashita, Manami, Ito, Hanae, Miyazaki, Ayako, Koshiko, Masaya, Harakuni, Masanao, Onuma, Megumi, Chiba, Hiroko, Masutani, Maki, Sudani, Natsu, Satsuki, Yuka, Takara, Taketoshi, Oka, Akira, Katsuta, Tomohiro, Shimizu, Naoki, Saitoh, Akihiko, Sakamoto, Tetsuya, Suzuki, Motoi, Sunagawa, Tomimasa
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Atlanta U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 01.08.2024
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
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Summary:To determine the characteristics of pediatric patients 0–19 years of age who died after onset of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Japan during January 1–September 30, 2022, we reviewed multiple sources. We identified 62 cases, collected detailed information from medical records and death certificates, and conducted interviews, resulting in 53 patients with detailed information for our study. Among 46 patients with internal causes of death (i.e., not external causes such as trauma), 15% were <1 year of age, 59% had no underlying disease, and 88% eligible for vaccination were unvaccinated. Nonrespiratory symptoms were more common than respiratory symptoms. Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest affected 46% of patients, and time from symptom onset to death was <7 days for 77%. Main suspected causes of death were central nervous system abnormalities (35%) and cardiac abnormalities (20%). We recommend careful follow-up of pediatric patients after SARS-CoV-2 infection during the first week after symptom onset, regardless of underlying diseases.
ISSN:1080-6040
1080-6059
DOI:10.3201/eid3008.240031