RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children: a prospective multicentre cohort study
JF Archives of Disease in Childhood
JO Arch Dis Child
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd and Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health
SP 680
OP 686
DO 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320558
VO 106
IS 7
A1 Thomas Waterfield
A1 Chris Watson
A1 Rebecca Moore
A1 Kathryn Ferris
A1 Claire Tonry
A1 Alison Watt
A1 Claire McGinn
A1 Steven Foster
A1 Jennifer Evans
A1 Mark David Lyttle
A1 Shazaad Ahmad
A1 Shamez Ladhani
A1 Michael Corr
A1 Lisa McFetridge
A1 Hannah Mitchell
A1 Kevin Brown
A1 Gayatri Amirthalingam
A1 Julie-Ann Maney
A1 Sharon Christie
YR 2021
UL http://adc.bmj.com/content/106/7/680.abstract
AB Background Studies based on molecular testing of oral/nasal swabs underestimate SARS-CoV-2 infection due to issues with test sensitivity, test timing and selection bias. The objective of this study was to report the presence of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, consistent with previous infection.Design This multicentre observational cohort study, conducted between 16 April to 3 July 2020 at 5 UK sites, recruited children of healthcare workers, aged 2–15 years. Participants provided blood samples for SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing and data were gathered regarding unwell contacts and symptoms.Results 1007 participants were enrolled, and 992 were included in the final analysis. The median age of participants was 10·1 years. There were 68 (6.9%) participants with positive SARS-CoV-2 antibody tests indicative of previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Of these, 34/68 (50%) reported no symptoms prior to testing. The presence of antibodies and the mean antibody titre was not influenced by age. Following multivariable analysis four independent variables were identified as significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 seropositivity: known infected household contact OR=10.9 (95% CI 6.1 to 19.6); fatigue OR=16.8 (95% CI 5.5 to 51.9); gastrointestinal symptoms OR=6.6 (95% CI 3.0 to 13.8); and changes in sense of smell or taste OR=10.0 (95% CI 2.4 to 11.4).Discussion Children demonstrated similar antibody titres in response to SARS-CoV-2 irrespective of age. Fatigue, gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in sense of smell or taste were the symptoms most strongly associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity.Trial registration number NCT0434740.Data are available in a public, open access repository. All of the individual participant data collected during this study will be available (including data dictionaries) on the Queen’s University Belfast database within 3 months of completion of the study.