Factors influencing viral shedding time in non-severe paediatric infection with the SARS-CoV-2: a single-centre retrospective study

Abstract

Background The aim of this study was to determine the factors influencing viral shedding time (VST) in non-severe paediatric infection with SARS-CoV-2).Methods We conducted a retrospective analysis of data from 240 non-severe paediatric infection with the SARS-CoV-2. Multivariate Cox regression analysis was used to identify independent predictors associated with VST.Results Two hundred and forty patients were included in the study. The median duration of VST was 10 days (IQR, 8–13 days). Compared with patients aged <1 year, children aged 6–12 years (adjusted HR (aHR): 1.849; 95% CI 1.031 to 3.315) and >12 years (aHR: 2.180; 95% CI 1.071 to 4.439) had shorter VST. Non-leucopenia patients (aHR: 1.431; 95% CI 1.005 to 2.038) also had a lower VST.Discussion The results of this study show that children aged <1 year and children with leucopenia had longer SARS-CoV-2 VST. These factors should be taken into account when developing policies for the isolation of patients with COVID-19.