New research suggests young children can drive the spread of coronavirus
Katy Morton
Monday, August 3, 2020
Researchers have backed a ‘cautious approach’ to the reopening of childcare settings as new findings suggest children infected with Covid-19 carry a larger virus load and are more likely to spread the virus.
The findings from two separate studies are in contrast to previous research and beliefs that children are less likely to contract or spread coronavirus.
Their publication follows concerns from teaching unions about the safety of staff when schools reopen to all children in England in September and as more young children begin to return to childcare settings.
The first study by paediatricians working in a hospital in Chicago found that children under the age of five who were infected with Covid-19 had significantly more of the viral generic material in their noses than older children and adults.
The research, which is published in the JAMA journal, is based upon analysis of nasal swabs taken from 415 people with ‘mild’ to ‘moderate’ cases of coronavirus within one week of their symptoms appearing. Researchers compared swabs from three groups of people – children under the age of five, those aged five to 17 and adults aged 18- to- 65.
They found similar viral genetic material in the noses of older children and adults. However, for children under the age of five, they found they carried 10 to 100 times the virus in their noses.
The researchers make clear that the small-scale study did not look at the detection of infectious virus, only the genetic material the virus leaves behind, known as ‘viral nucleic acid’ however. It also did not look at transmission of the virus.
While the findings do not prove that young children are more contagious with Covid-19, the researchers say that based upon previous studies, this could mean they are ‘important drivers’ of coronavirus spread in the population. They also warn that behaviourial habits of young children within close quarters in childcare settings and schools raises concern for increased spread of the virus as public health restrictions are eased.
They conclude by suggesting that children under five be made a target once a vaccine becomes available.
Italian study
The second study, a pre-print manuscript awaiting peer review, was carried out by researchers in the province of Trento in Northern Italy during March and April.
The contact tracing study of more than 1,000 cases of Covid-19 found that children from birth to age 14 had a higher risk of passing the virus onto others than any other age group. Their risk of transmitting the virus was 22.4 per cent – more than twice that of adults aged 30-49.
Infected children were more likely to spread coronavirus to other young children, mainly those in their household. The researchers suggest this could be down to the different ‘nature of interactions’ between adults and children. Also, adults are more likely to adhere to quarantining, whereas it can be difficult to get children to truly isolate.
A contact of a Covid-19 case is described as any person who has had contact with someone with the virus from 48 hours before the onset of symptoms to 14 days after.
Similar to the study by paediatricians in Chicago, the researchers also found that the younger the child, the higher the concentration of Covid-19 present in their nose
In conclusion, the Italian researchers say that their findings are in support of a policy of ‘maximum caution’ with respect to the reopening of childcare settings and schools.
