Epidemiological characteristics of indigenous 2019-nCoV infection in population under 18 years old in China
10.3760/cma.j.cn112338-20221129-01007
- VernacularTitle:中国31个省份18岁以下新型冠状病毒本土感染者的流行特征分析
- Author:
Simeng FAN
1
;
Zhibin PENG
;
Dan LI
;
Kai QU
;
Yulu MIAO
;
Xiaokun YANG
;
Hongting ZHAO
;
Jiandong ZHENG
;
Ying QIN
;
Yanping ZHANG
;
Zijian FENG
Author Information
1. 中国疾病预防控制中心传染病管理处,北京 102206
- Keywords:
2019-nCoV;
Minor;
Epidemiological characteristic
- From:
Chinese Journal of Epidemiology
2023;44(2):184-189
- CountryChina
- Language:Chinese
-
Abstract:
Objective:To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of indigenous 2019-nCoV infection in population under 18 years old in 31 provinces of China, and provide evidence for the prevention and control of COVID-19.Method:Demographic and epidemiologic information of children and adolescents with 2019-nCoV infection reported in China between April 29, 2020 and May 31, 2022 were collected from China's Disease Prevention and Control Information System. We analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of the 2019-nCoV infection in children and adolescents and compared the epidemiological characteristics of the cases at different epidemic stages.Result:A total of 63 916 indigenous 2019-nCoV infection cases in children and adolescents were reported in China from April 29, 2020 to May 31, 2022, in which 14 777 (23.12%) were confirmed cases and 49 139 (76.88%) were asymptomatic cases. An obvious incidence peak (40 864 cases) was observed in April, 2022, and two sub-peaks were observed in January, 2020 and January, 2021, respectively. The 2019-nCoV infection cases occurred in 187 cities above prefecture level in 30 provinces, the cases reported in Shanghai (41 562 cases), Changchun (5 753 cases) and Jilin (3 888 cases) accounted for 80.11% of the total cases (51 203/63 916). The proportion of the cases in males was 54.34%. The age of the cases, M ( Q1, Q3) was 10 (5, 14) years, and 57.73% of the cases were 6 - 15 years old. The cases in students accounted for the highest proportion (56.14%). The interval between illness onset and diagnosis of confirmed cases, M ( Q1, Q3) was 1 (0, 2) days. Among the 2019-nCoV infection cases in children and adolescents, 76.88% were asymptomatic, 21.78% were mild ones, 1.32% were moderately severe ones, 0.02% were severe ones, and there were no critical cases and deaths. Compared with other age groups, the proportion of severe or critical cases was higher in children aged <1 year (0.12%). The proportion of asymptomatic infections was highest in Omicron variant epidemic (78.43%). Conclusion:The 2019-nCoV infection cases in children and adolescents aged <18 years in 31 provinces in China were mainly primary and secondary school students aged 6-15 years. Most cases were asymptomatic and mild ones with low clinical severity. It is still necessary to strengthen the surveillance for 2019-nCoV infection in children and adolescents to improve the prevention and control of COVID-19 in school age children.