COVID-19 in children, adolescents and young adults: a cross-sectional study in Espírito Santo, Brazil, 2020

Abstract

Objective: To analyze self-reported sociodemographic and clinical characteristics among individuals aged 2 to 22 years and possible associations with SARS-CoV-2 infection in Espírito Santo, Brazil. Methods: This was a serial cross-sectional population-based study carried out from May to June 2020. The COVID-19 positivity rate was assessed by serological testing, and associated factors were assessed using Pearson's chi-square test (5% significance level). Results: Among 1,693 individuals aged 2 to 22 years, 6.1% tested positive for COVID-19 and, among these, 35.5% did not present any symptoms. Differences were identified between positive and negative cases regarding the number of symptoms (p-value=0.001). Coughing was reported by 40.4% of positive individuals. Only 14.3% sought health care, namely 29.8% among those who tested positive and 13.3% among those who tested negative (p-value=0.001). Conclusion: The percentage of asymptomatic patients can impact the COVID-19 transmission chain in schools and fuel outbreaks of the disease in schools.