Asymptomatic Children as a Missing Link in Preventing COVID-19 Transmission

Abstract

Background: Investigating the prevalence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic children in close contact with symptomatic individuals is instrumental in refining public health approaches. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the occurrence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic children who had been in close contact with parents exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms. Study design: Cross-Sectional Methods: The present was conducted on 175 asymptomatic children who had been in close contact with a COVID-19 confirmed cases in Hamadan county through March 2021 to August 2021. RT-PCR was performed on all asymptomatic children who had been in close contact with persons with COVID-19. Multiple logistic regressions were conducted to determine the predictors of COVID-19 transmission from family members to the children. Results: Out of the 175 children in close contact with index cases, 53 (30.29%) tested positive for COVID-19 through PCR. Notably, being the child, brother, or sister of the index case was found to be more strongly associated with disease transmission compared to being a grandchild (P < 0.05). Regarding factors related to the index case, male cases (AOR = 2.29, P = 0.041), rural dwellers (AOR = 3.22, P = 0.046), illiterate cases (AOR = 8.45, P = 0.008), and cases presenting with nasal congestion symptoms (AOR = 9.12, P = 0.002) were more prone to transmitting the virus to children who had close contact with them. Conclusion: The present study's findings suggested that asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in household contacts was significant in children who had been in close contact with a COVID-19-positive patient.

Keywords: Asymptomatic, Child, Transmission, COVID-19