Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019
Objective: To determine the dynamic changes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in respiratory and fecal specimens in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: From January 17, 2020 to February 23, 2020, three paediatric cases of COVID-19 were report...
Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , |
---|---|
Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Elsevier
2020-06-01
|
Series: | Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118220300815 |
_version_ | 1818316867791486976 |
---|---|
author | Yu-Han Xing Wei Ni Qin Wu Wen-Jie Li Guo-Ju Li Wen-Di Wang Jian-Ning Tong Xiu-Feng Song Gary Wing-Kin Wong Quan-Sheng Xing |
author_facet | Yu-Han Xing Wei Ni Qin Wu Wen-Jie Li Guo-Ju Li Wen-Di Wang Jian-Ning Tong Xiu-Feng Song Gary Wing-Kin Wong Quan-Sheng Xing |
author_sort | Yu-Han Xing |
collection | DOAJ |
description | Objective: To determine the dynamic changes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in respiratory and fecal specimens in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: From January 17, 2020 to February 23, 2020, three paediatric cases of COVID-19 were reported in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and treatment data were collected. Patients were followed up to March 10, 2020, and dynamic profiles of nucleic acid testing results in throat swabs and fecal specimens were closely monitored. Results: Clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory tract occurred within two weeks after abatement of fever, whereas viral RNA remained detectable in stools of pediatric patients for longer than 4 weeks. Two children had fecal SARS-CoV-2 undetectable 20 days after throat swabs showing negative, while that of another child lagged behind for 8 days. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 may exist in children's gastrointestinal tract for a longer time than respiratory system. Persistent shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in stools of infected children raises the possibility that the virus might be transmitted through contaminated fomites. Massive efforts should be made at all levels to prevent spreading of the infection among children after reopening of kindergartens and schools. |
first_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:28:15Z |
format | Article |
id | doaj.art-89ca78722b074868ac4afbf4a4b96356 |
institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
issn | 1684-1182 |
language | English |
last_indexed | 2024-12-13T09:28:15Z |
publishDate | 2020-06-01 |
publisher | Elsevier |
record_format | Article |
series | Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection |
spelling | doaj.art-89ca78722b074868ac4afbf4a4b963562022-12-21T23:52:34ZengElsevierJournal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection1684-11822020-06-01533473480Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019Yu-Han Xing0Wei Ni1Qin Wu2Wen-Jie Li3Guo-Ju Li4Wen-Di Wang5Jian-Ning Tong6Xiu-Feng Song7Gary Wing-Kin Wong8Quan-Sheng Xing9Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaQingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, ChinaDepartment of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China; Corresponding author. Lui Che Woo Clinical Sciences Building, Department of Paediatrics, Prince of Wales Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, NT, Hong Kong, China.Qingdao Women and Children's Hospital, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong Province, China; Corresponding author. No.6 Tongfu Road, 266000, Qingdao, China.Objective: To determine the dynamic changes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in respiratory and fecal specimens in children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: From January 17, 2020 to February 23, 2020, three paediatric cases of COVID-19 were reported in Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics and treatment data were collected. Patients were followed up to March 10, 2020, and dynamic profiles of nucleic acid testing results in throat swabs and fecal specimens were closely monitored. Results: Clearance of SARS-CoV-2 in respiratory tract occurred within two weeks after abatement of fever, whereas viral RNA remained detectable in stools of pediatric patients for longer than 4 weeks. Two children had fecal SARS-CoV-2 undetectable 20 days after throat swabs showing negative, while that of another child lagged behind for 8 days. Conclusions: SARS-CoV-2 may exist in children's gastrointestinal tract for a longer time than respiratory system. Persistent shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in stools of infected children raises the possibility that the virus might be transmitted through contaminated fomites. Massive efforts should be made at all levels to prevent spreading of the infection among children after reopening of kindergartens and schools.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118220300815SARS-CoV-2COVID-19Pediatric patientFecal shedding |
spellingShingle | Yu-Han Xing Wei Ni Qin Wu Wen-Jie Li Guo-Ju Li Wen-Di Wang Jian-Ning Tong Xiu-Feng Song Gary Wing-Kin Wong Quan-Sheng Xing Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 Journal of Microbiology, Immunology and Infection SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Pediatric patient Fecal shedding |
title | Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 |
title_full | Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 |
title_fullStr | Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 |
title_full_unstemmed | Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 |
title_short | Prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 |
title_sort | prolonged viral shedding in feces of pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 |
topic | SARS-CoV-2 COVID-19 Pediatric patient Fecal shedding |
url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1684118220300815 |
work_keys_str_mv | AT yuhanxing prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT weini prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT qinwu prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT wenjieli prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT guojuli prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT wendiwang prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT jianningtong prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT xiufengsong prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT garywingkinwong prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 AT quanshengxing prolongedviralsheddinginfecesofpediatricpatientswithcoronavirusdisease2019 |