Longitudinal Changes on Clinical Features in 28 Children With COVID-19 in Shenzhen, China

Objective: To investigate the clinical characteristics of children infected with coronavirus disease 2019（COVID-19） and identify the occurrence of viral shedding of SARS-CoV-2 during follow-up.Methods: We retrospectively retrieved data from pediatric patients with COVID-19 from the Third People’s Hospital in Shenzhen, China. The dynamics of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 were analyzed during hospitalization and after discharge. Results: From January 23 to February 9, 2020, a total of 28 pediatric patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 and were followed for at least one month. The median age was 7 years (IQR 3.5-10) and during hospitalization, none of the children progressed to severe COVID-19. Ten patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 one month after discharge while four patients tested positive during the second month after discharge. Only three of 12 children sero-converted immunoglobulin-M （IgM） during the course of the disease on Day Five, Day 18, and Day 21 after illness onset, respectively. Conclusions: Though COVID-19 disease was relatively mild among children, a number did test positive after discharge from the hospital. Public health initiatives should thus adapt control measures targeted towards children.