Respiratory viral coinfections in pediatric patients in the primary care setting: a multicenter prospective study within the COPEDICAT network.

Acute respiratory viral infections pose a significant healthcare burden on the pediatric population globally, but data on the dissemination pattern in the community due to the COVID-19 pandemic are scarce. We conducted a two-year prospective multicenter study in Catalonia (Spain) that examined the prevalence and coinfection dynamics of respiratory viruses among 1276 pediatric patients from different age groups attending primary care. Coinfection analysis demonstrated complex patterns and revealed a coinfection rate of 23.8% for SARS-CoV-2, often in association with rhinovirus or influenza A. This study provides valuable data to understand post-pandemic viral interactions, which is imperative for public health interventions.

Prevalence, Clinical Characteristics and Risk Factors of Post-COVID-19 Condition in a Multicenter Pediatric Primary and Hospital Care Cohort.

The prevalence of post-COVID-19 condition is not well defined. We describe a cohort of 244 children diagnosed with COVID-19 and followed up for 6 months, in which 4.9% of patients had persistent symptoms at 12 weeks. Anosmia was the most frequent symptom. Being female and having more than 3 symptoms in acute infection were associated with an increased risk of post-COVID.

Household Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 Transmission and Children: A Network Prospective Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of children in household transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) remains unclear. We describe the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Catalonia, Spain, and investigate the household transmission dynamics. METHODS: A prospective, observational, multicenter study was performed during summer and school periods (1 July 2020-31 October 2020) to analyze epidemiological and clinical features and viral household transmission dynamics in COVID-19 patients aged <16 years. A pediatric index case was established when a child was the first individual infected. Secondary cases were defined when another household member tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 before the child. The secondary attack rate (SAR) was calculated, and logistic regression was used to assess associations between transmission risk factors and SARS-CoV-2 infection. RESULTS: The study included 1040 COVID-19 patients. Almost half (47.2%) were asymptomatic, 10.8% had comorbidities, and 2.6% required hospitalization. No deaths were reported. Viral transmission was common among household members (62.3%). More than 70% (756/1040) of pediatric cases were secondary to an adult, whereas 7.7% (80/1040) were index cases. The SAR was significantly lower in households with COVID-19 pediatric index cases during the school period relative to summer (P = .02) and compared to adults (P = .006). No individual or environmental risk factors associated with the SAR. CONCLUSIONS: Children are unlikely to cause household COVID-19 clusters or be major drivers of the pandemic, even if attending school. Interventions aimed at children are expected to have a small impact on reducing SARS-CoV-2 transmission.

Subcutaneous fat distribution in small for gestational age newborns.

We assessed the anthropometric characteristics of symmetric (SGA-S) and asymmetric (SGA-A) term newborns and describe their subcutaneous fat differences. We assessed perinatal data, maternal characteristics and anthropometric variables (including skinfold thicknesses) in 139 small for gestational age (SGA) term infants, classified as symmetric and asymmetric according to their ponderal index (using the 10(th) percentile as the cut-off criterion). Despite an overall small body size and lower amounts of subcutaneous fat than the reference population, SGA-S term newborns showed a proportionate body fat distribution and SGA-A were thinner and had a lower percentage of central subcutaneous fat than SGA-S. These findings, resulting from intrauterine growth restriction, could be associated with different early and later postnatal outcomes among SGA groups.

Sedentary behaviour and obesity development in children and adolescents.

Sedentary lifestyle patterns in children and adolescents, i.e. playing digital games, using computers and especially watching television, have been associated with obesity. However, not all sedentary behaviour has shown the same relevance to, and relationship with, obesity. Therefore, we conducted a review including published studies found in PubMed and other medical journals, dated between January 1990 and April 2007. The ages of the children and adolescents who were the object of the study ranged between 2 and 18 years. For the purpose of this paper, we selected cross-sectional, longitudinal and intervention studies. Sufficient evidence exists to recommend setting a limit to the time spent watching TV, especially for younger children. However, video games and computers do not represent such a high risk compared to watching TV, when they do not replace physical activity too much. In fact, there is no evidence to suggest that sedentary behaviour displaces physical activity levels. Mechanisms that explain the link between sedentariness and obesity are also discussed. Finally, future studies should take into account important mediators such as socioeconomic status and family structure.