Alliance for Pandemic Preparedness

March 15, 2021

Household SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Children: A Network Prospective Study

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  • A study of SARS-CoV-2 household transmission in Spain found that while viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%), among the 1,040 children under age 16 included in the study, more than 70% (756) of cases were acquired from an adult, whereas only 7.7% (80) were index cases. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, 2.6% required hospitalization, and no deaths were reported. The secondary attack rate was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (p=0.02), and when compared to households with adult index cases (p=0.006). [EDITORIAL NOTE: Directionality of transmission was uncertain in 28% of index cases and both household member and child were assigned as index cases.  In addition, this analysis did not appear to fully incorporate shared exposure to a non-household source of infection.]

Soriano-Arandes et al. (Mar 12, 2021). Household SARS-CoV-2 Transmission and Children: A Network Prospective Study. Clinical Infectious Diseases. https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciab228