PLoS ONE (Jan 2022)

Clinical, anamnestic, and sociodemographic predictors of positive SARS-CoV-2 testing in children: A cross sectional study in a tertiary hospital in Italy.

  • Benedetta Armocida,
  • Giulia Zamagni,
  • Elena Magni,
  • Lorenzo Monasta,
  • Manola Comar,
  • Nunzia Zanotta,
  • Carolina Cason,
  • Giorgia Argentini,
  • Marianela Urriza,
  • Andrea Cassone,
  • Fulvia Vascotto,
  • Roberto Buzzetti,
  • Egidio Barbi,
  • Massimo Del Pin,
  • Paola Pani,
  • Alessandra Knowles,
  • Claudia Carletti,
  • Federica Concina,
  • Mariarosa Milinco,
  • Luca Ronfani

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0262923
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 17, no. 1
p. e0262923

Abstract

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ObjectivesWe aimed to identify clinical, anamnestic, and sociodemographic characteristics associated with a positive swab for SARS-CoV2, and to provide a predictive score to identify at risk population in children aged 2-14 years attending school and tested for clinical symptoms of COVID-19.DesignCross sectional study.SettingOutpatient clinic of the IRCCS Burlo Garofolo, a maternal and child health tertiary care hospital and research centre in Italy.Data collection and analysisData were collected through a predefined form, filled out by parents, and gathered information on sociodemographic characteristics, and specific symptoms, which were analysed to determine their association with a positive SARS-CoV-2 swab. The regression coefficients of the variables included in the multivariate analysis were further used in the calculation of a predictive score of the positive or negative test.ResultsBetween September 20th and December 23rd 2020, from 1484 children included in the study, 127 (8.6%) tested positive. In the multivariate analysis, the variables retained by the model were the presence of contact with a cohabiting, non-cohabiting or unspecified symptomatic case (respectively OR 37.2, 95% CI 20.1-68.7; 5.1, 95% CI 2.7-9.6; 15.6, 95% CI 7.3-33.2); female sex (OR 1.49, 95% CI 1.0-2.3); age (6-10 years old: OR 3.2, 95% CI 1.7-6.1 p10 years old: OR 4.8, 95% CI 2.7-8.8 pConclusionsThe timely identification of SARS-CoV2 cases among children is useful to reduce the dissemination of the disease and its related burden. The predictive score may be adopted in a public health perspective to rapidly identify at risk children.