Characteristics of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection and potential evidence for persistent fecal viral shedding

Type Journal Article Author Yi Xu Author Xufang Li Author Bing Zhu Author Huiying Liang Author Chunxiao Fang Author Yu Gong Author Qiaozhi Guo Author Xin Sun Author Danyang Zhao Author Jun Shen Author Huayan Zhang Author Hongsheng Liu Author Huimin Xia Author Jinling Tang Author Kang Zhang Author Sitang Gong URL https://www.nature.com/articles/s41591-020-0817-4 Rights 2020 The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature America, Inc. Volume 26 Issue 4 Pages 502-505 Publication Nature Medicine ISSN 1546-170X Date 13/03/2020 Extra Number: 4 Publisher: Nature Publishing Group DOI 10.1038/s41591-020-0817-4 Library Catalog www.nature.com Language en Abstract We report epidemiological and clinical investigations on ten pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection cases confirmed by real-time reverse transcription PCR assay of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Symptoms in these cases were nonspecific and no children required respiratory support or intensive care. Chest X-rays lacked definite signs of pneumonia, a defining feature of the infection in adult cases. Notably, eight children persistently tested positive on rectal swabs even after nasopharyngeal testing was negative, raising the possibility of fecal–oral transmission.