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J Res Health Sci. 2024;24(2): e00614.
doi: 10.34172/jrhs.2024.149

Scopus ID: 85196362082
  Abstract View: 3190
  PDF Download: 205

Original Article

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

Iraj Sedighi 1 ORCID logo, Roya Raeisi 1, Jalaleddin Amiri 1* ORCID logo, Zohreh Shalchi 1, Manoochehr Karami 2, Farid Azizi Jalilian 3, Ali Teimoori 3, Nastaran Ansari 3, Jalaledin Bathaei 4, Mohammad Hashemi 4

1 Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
2 Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences,Tehran, Iran
3 Department of Virology, School of Medicine, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
4 Deputy of Health, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
*Corresponding Author: Jalaleddin Amiri, Email: jalalamiri1351@gmail.com

Abstract

Background: Investigating the prevalence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in asymptomatic children who have been in close contact with symptomatic individuals is instrumental for refining public health approaches, protecting vulnerable populations, and mitigating the broader impact of the pandemic. Accordingly, this study aimed to evaluate the incidence of COVID-19 infection in asymptomatic children who had been in close contact with parents exhibiting COVID-19 symptoms.

Study Design: A cross-sectional study.

Methods: The present cross-sectional study was conducted on 175 asymptomatic children who had been in close contact with COVID-19 confirmed cases in Hamadan County from March 2021 to August 2021. Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing was performed on all asymptomatic children who had been in close contact with an individual with COVID-19. Furthermore, multiple logistic regressions were conducted to determine the predictors of COVID-19 transmission from family members to children.

Results: Out of the 175 children in close contact with index cases, 53 (30.29%) tested positive for COVID-19 through PCR. Regarding factors related to the index case, male cases (Adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.29; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.03-5.09, P=0.041), rural dwellers (AOR=3.22; 95% CI: 1.02-10.16, P=0.046), illiterate cases (AOR=8.45; 95% CI: 1.76-40.65, P=0.008), and cases presenting with nasal congestion symptoms (AOR=9.12; 95% CI: 2.22-37.40, P=0.002) were more prone to transmitting the virus to children who had close contact with them.

Conclusion: The findings of the present study suggested that asymptomatic COVID-19 infection in household contacts is significant in children who were in close contact with a COVID-19-positive patient. Therefore, it is crucial to continue to monitor this group closely.


Please cite this article as follows: Sedighi I, Raeisi R, Amiri J, Shalchi Z, Karami M, Azizi Jalilian F, et al. Asymptomatic children as a missing link in preventing COVID-19 transmission. J Res Health Sci. 2024; 24(2):e00614. doi:10.34172/jrhs.2024.149
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PDF Download: 205

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Submitted: 31 Dec 2023
Revision: 28 Feb 2024
Accepted: 10 Mar 2024
ePublished: 01 Jun 2024
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