Clinical and epidemiological features of 36 children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Zhejiang, China: an observational cohort study

This analysis of 36 children (mean 8.3 years) found close contact with family was the primary transmission route (89%). Around half (53%) had moderate disease with pneumonia, and the remainder were mild (28% asymptomatic). Mean time in hospital was 14 (SD 3) days.

SPS commentary:

The authors discuss how the large proportion of children with asymptomatic infection seen in their study contrasts with paediatric patients with H1N1 influenza and SARS, and adult patients with COVID-19, in terms of presenting respiratory symptoms. This suggests that SARS-CoV-2 has little effect on the upper respiratory tract of children, and that COVID-19 can have a covert presentation in children.

The Lancet Infectious Diseases