Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in children: Are they similar to those of SARS?

Abstract

Although the number of SARS-CoV-2 infections has been rising amid the current pandemic of COVID-19, the low infection rate of SARS-CoV-2 in children has been low. By examining the clinical data available in the public domain, the present work clarifies the clinical presentations in children with COVID-19 in China. Statistical significance tests and adjusted odds ratios estimation were performed on the children (age below 18) and adults (age 18 or above) cohorts in China. SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 shared similar clinical features. Lower respiratory tract infection was less prominent in children as evidenced by the relatively low prevalence in chest pain/discomfort and dyspnea. Similar to SARS, younger children had a less aggressive clinical course, compared with adolescents. While fewer symptoms were observed in children compared to adults, there is not yet sufficient evidence to conclude shorter hospital stay in children.