A meta-analysis on the role of children in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in household transmission clusters
Authors/Creators
Yanshan Zhu
Conor J. Bloxham
Katina D. Hulme
Jane E. Sinclair
Zhen W. M. Tong
Lauren E. Steele
Ellesandra C. Noye
Jiahai Lu
Yao Xia, Edith Cowan UniversityFollow
Keng Yih Chew
Janessa Pickering
Charles Gilks
Asha C. Bowen
Kirsty R. Short
Abstract
The role of children in the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains highly controversial. To address this issue, we performed a meta-analysis of the published literature on household SARS-CoV-2 transmission clusters (n = 213 from 12 countries). Only 8 (3.8%) transmission clusters were identified as having a pediatric index case. Asymptomatic index cases were associated with a lower secondary attack in contacts than symptomatic index cases (estimate risk ratio [RR], 0.17; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.09-0.29). To determine the susceptibility of children to household infections the secondary attack rate in pediatric household contacts was assessed. The secondary attack rate in pediatric household contacts was lower than in adult household contacts (RR, 0.62; 95% CI, 0.42-0.91). These data have important implications for the ongoing management of the COVID-19 pandemic, including potential vaccine prioritization strategies.
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
2021
Volume
72
Issue
12
PubMed ID
33283240
Publication Title
Clinical Infectious Diseases
Publisher
Oxford University Press
School
School of Science
RAS ID
38759
Funders
Australian Research Council National Health and Medical Research Council Sanofi Roche Novonordisk
Grant Number
ARC Number : DE180100512NHMRC Number : 1175509
Grant Link
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DE180100512
Copyright
free_to_read
First Page
e1146
Last Page
e1153
Comments
Zhu, Y., Bloxham, C. J., Hulme, K. D., Sinclair, J. E., Tong, Z. W. M., Steele, L. E., ... Short, K. R. (2021). A meta-analysis on the role of children in severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 in household transmission clusters. Clinical Infectious Diseases, 72(12), e1146-e1153. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciaa1825