Abstract
We evaluated the rates of viral respiratory co-infections among SARS-CoV-2-infected children. Twelve percent of SARS-CoV-2-infected children had viral co-infection with one or more common respiratory viruses. This was significantly more frequent than among their SARS-CoV-2-infected adult household contacts (0%; p=0.028). Compared to the same period the previous year, common respiratory viruses were less frequently detected (12% vs 73%, p<0.001).Conclusion: Despite partial lockdown with school and daycare closure, and consequently similar exposure to common viruses between children and adults, SARS-CoV-2-infected children had more frequent viral respiratory co-infections than their SARS-CoV-2-infected adult household contacts. Circulation of common respiratory viruses was less frequent during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak when compared to the same period last year, showing the impact of partial lockdown on the circulation of common viruses.What is Known:• Viral respiratory co-infections are frequent in children.• SARS-CoV-2 can be identified alongside other respiratory viruses, but data comparing children and adults are lacking.What is New:• Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to have viral respiratory co-infections than their SARS-CoV-2-infected adult household contacts, which is surprising in the context of partial lockdown with schools and daycare closed.• When compared to data collected during the same period last year, our study also showed that partial lockdown reduced circulation of common respiratory viruses.
Highlights
Viral respiratory infections are among the most common infections in adults and children
Circulation of common respiratory viruses was less frequent during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak when compared to the same period last year, showing the impact of partial lockdown on the circulation of common viruses
Children infected with SARS-CoV-2 are more likely to have viral respiratory co-infections than their SARS-CoV-2-infected adult household contacts, which is surprising in the context of partial lockdown with schools and daycare closed
Summary
Viral respiratory infections are among the most common infections in adults and children. Respiratory viral co-infections are more frequent in symptomatic young children [1, 2]. Data from the pre-pandemic era are inconsistent about whether viral respiratory co-infections are associated with increased disease severity when compared to infections with a single virus but a meta-analysis suggested no significant difference [3]. Viral co-infections in SARS-CoV2-infected adults range from 3 to 21% [4, 5], while they range between 5 and 19% in SARS-CoV-2-infected children [6]. The aim of our study was to evaluate rates of viral respiratory co-infections among SARS-CoV-2-infected children and compare it to SARS-CoV-2-infected adults living in the same households
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