Abstract

Pulmonary complications in adults who recovered from severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) have been reported even in minimally symptomatic patients. In this study, lung ultrasound (LUS) findings and pulmonary function of children who recovered from an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were evaluated. We prospectively followed up for at least 30 days patients younger than 18 years who recovered from SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan (Italy). All enrolled patients underwent LUS. Airway resistance measured by the interrupter technique test was assessed in subjects aged 4–6 years, whereas forced spirometry and measurement of diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide were performed in subjects older than 6 years. To evaluate a possible correlation between pulmonary alterations and immune response to SARS-CoV-2, two semiquantitative enzyme immune assays were used. We enrolled 16 out of 23 eligible children. The median age of enrolled subjects was 7.5 (0.5–10.5) years, with a male to female ratio of 1.7. No subject presented any abnormality on LUS, airway resistance test, forced spirometry, and diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide. On the other hand, all subjects presented Ig G against SARS-CoV-2. In contrast in adults, we did not detect any pulmonary complications in our cohort. These preliminary observations suggest that children with an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection might be less prone to develop pulmonary complications than adults.

Highlights

  • Both adults and children can be infected by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)

  • A lower respiratory tract involvement has been observed mainly in adult patients [1], and pulmonary complications have been reported after recovery [2] even in many minimally symptomatic patients [3]

  • No data are currently available on pulmonary complications in children who recovered from non-severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection

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Summary

Introduction

Both adults and children can be infected by the novel severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A lower respiratory tract involvement has been observed mainly in adult patients [1], and pulmonary complications have been reported after recovery [2] even in many minimally symptomatic patients [3]. Most children infected with SARS-CoV-2 have a milder clinical course [4]. No data are currently available on pulmonary complications in children who recovered from non-severe forms of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The aim of this preliminary study was to evaluate lung ultrasound (LUS) findings and pulmonary function in children who recovered from an asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection

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