scholarly journals Clinical Characteristics of 24 Asymptomatic Infections with COVID-19 Screened Among Close Contacts in Nanjing, China

Author(s):  
Zhiliang Hu ◽  
Ci Song ◽  
Chuanjun Xu ◽  
Guangfu Jin ◽  
Yaling Chen ◽  
...  
2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (5) ◽  
pp. 706-711 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhiliang Hu ◽  
Ci Song ◽  
Chuanjun Xu ◽  
Guangfu Jin ◽  
Yaling Chen ◽  
...  

Author(s):  
Zhiliang Hu ◽  
Ci Song ◽  
Chuanjun Xu ◽  
Guangfu Jin ◽  
Yaling Chen ◽  
...  

AbstractBackgroundPrevious studies have showed clinical characteristics of patients with the 2019 novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) and the evidence of person-to-person transmission. Limited data are available for asymptomatic infections. This study aims to present the clinical characteristics of 24 cases with asymptomatic infection screened from close contacts and to show the transmission potential of asymptomatic COVID-19 virus carriers.MethodsEpidemiological investigations were conducted among all close contacts of COVID-19 patients (or suspected patients) in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China, from Jan 28 to Feb 9, 2020, both in clinic and in community. Asymptomatic carriers were laboratory-confirmed positive for the COVID-19 virus by testing the nucleic acid of the pharyngeal swab samples. Their clinical records, laboratory assessments, and chest CT scans were reviewed.FindingsNone of the 24 asymptomatic cases presented any obvious symptoms before nucleic acid screening. Five cases (20.8%) developed symptoms (fever, cough, fatigue, etc.) during hospitalization. Twelve (50.0%) cases showed typical CT images of ground-glass chest and 5 (20.8%) presented stripe shadowing in the lungs. The remaining 7 (29.2%) cases showed normal CT image and had no symptoms during hospitalization. These 7 cases were younger (median age: 14.0 years; P = 0.012) than the rest. None of the 24 cases developed severe COVID-19 pneumonia or died. The median communicable period, defined as the interval from the first day of positive nucleic acid tests to the first day of continuous negative tests, was 9.5 days (up to 21 days among the 24 asymptomatic cases). Through epidemiological investigation, we observed a typical asymptomatic transmission to the cohabiting family members, which even caused severe COVID-19 pneumonia.InterpretationThe asymptomatic carriers identified from close contacts were prone to be mildly ill during hospitalization. However, the communicable period could be up to three weeks and the communicated patients could develop severe illness. These results highlighted the importance of close contact tracing and longitudinally surveillance via virus nucleic acid tests. Further isolation recommendation and continuous nucleic acid tests may also be recommended to the patients discharged.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danying Yan ◽  
Xiaobao Zhang ◽  
Can Chen ◽  
Daixi Jiang ◽  
Xiaoxiao Liu ◽  
...  

Background: The viral shedding time (VST) of SARS-CoV-2 mainly determines its transmission and duration of infectiousness. However, it was heterogeneous in the existing studies. Here, we performed a meta-analysis to comprehensively summarize the VST of SARS-CoV-2.Methods: We searched PubMed, Web of Science, MedRxiv, BioRxiv, CNKI, CSTJ, and Wanfang up to October 25, 2020, for studies that reported VSTs of SARS-CoV-2. Pooled estimates and 95% CIs for the VSTs were calculated using log-transformed data. The VSTs in SARS-CoV-2 infections based on different demographic and clinical characteristics, treatments and specimens were stratified by subgroup analysis.Results: A total of 35 studies involving 3,385 participants met the inclusion criteria. The pooled mean VST was 16.8 days (95% CI: 14.8–19.4, I2 = 99.56%) in SARS-CoV-2 infections. The VST was significantly longer in symptomatic infections (19.7 days, 95% CI: 17.2–22.7, I2 = 99.34%) than in asymptomatic infections (10.9 days, 95% CI: 8.3–14.3, I2 = 98.89%) (P < 0.05). The VST was 23.2 days (95% CI: 19.0–28.4, I2 = 99.24%) in adults, which was significantly longer than that in children (9.9 days, 95% CI: 8.1–12.2, I2 = 85.74%) (P < 0.05). The VST was significantly longer in persons with chronic diseases (24.2 days, 95% CI: 19.2–30.2, I2 = 84.07%) than in those without chronic diseases (11.5 days, 95% CI: 5.3–25.0, I2 = 82.11%) (P < 0.05). Persons receiving corticosteroid treatment (28.3 days, 95% CI: 25.6–31.2, I2 = 0.00%) had a longer VST than those without corticosteroid treatment (16.2 days, 95% CI: 11.5–22.5, I2 = 92.27%) (P = 0.06). The VST was significantly longer in stool specimens (30.3 days, 95% CI: 23.1–39.2, I2 = 92.09%) than in respiratory tract specimens (17.5 days, 95% CI: 14.9–20.6, I2 = 99.67%) (P < 0.05).Conclusions: A longer VST was found in symptomatic infections, infected adults, persons with chronic diseases, and stool specimens.


Author(s):  
Insuk Sim ◽  
Yun-Jung Kang ◽  
Hye Jeong Kim

The first case of coronavirus disease reported in South Korea was a person infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), who entered South Korea from China on January 20, 2020. In the Capital, the Korean government applied the social distancing policy at level 2.5 for 8 days from August 30 to September 6, 2020. The Central Disease Relief Center explained that the reason the number of newly confirmed cases per day did not fall below 100 was because the infection spread nationwide through sporadic mass infections or asymptomatic patients. Asymptomatic infection with SARS-CoV-2 is a subject of constant controversies, as asymptomatic patients can infect other people while not showing any symptoms themselves. Their atypical clinical characteristics in the early stages of the disease make prevention more difficult. Additional studies on the infecting power of SARS-CoV-2 in asymptomatic cases are needed. Nonetheless, such probabilities should be taken into consideration and we should remain vigilant.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Youshu Yuan ◽  
Zhengqiao Yang ◽  
Jinxia Fu ◽  
Yun Zhang ◽  
...  

Abstract Background In December, 2019, a type of novel coronavirus which was designated novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) by World Health Organization (WHO) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei, China. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of those patients under 18 years old in the recovery stage are limited. To compare the difference of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 involving 25 patients under 18 years old in recovery stage between confirmed and asymptomatic infections.Methods Retrospective, single-center cohort study of COVID-19 involving 25 patients under 18 years old in the recovery stage at Guizhou Provincial Staff Hospital in Guiyang, China, from January 29, to March 31, 2020; final date of follow-up was April 22. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and treatment data were collected and analyzed. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 infections and asymptomatic infections were compared.Results Among the 25 COVID infections under 18 years old, 16 (64%) were mild or moderate confirmed cases, and 9 (36%) were asymptomatic. The shortest treatment period was 6 days, the longest 26 days, and the average treatment period 14 days. Four cases (44.4%) had visited Wuhan or had a living story in the city. There were 9 (100%) asymptomatic cases were familial cluster outbreak, with an average infection number was 6 cases among all families. The number of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections’ Leukopenia were significantly more than confirmed cases (p = 0.04).Conclusions Leukopenia mostly occurred in asymptomatic COVID-19 infections under 18 years old compared with the confirmed patients.


2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Lin Yao ◽  
Peijun Tang ◽  
Hui Jiang ◽  
Binbin Gu ◽  
Ping Xu ◽  
...  

Objectives. The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is an emerging virus causing substantial morbidity and mortality worldwide. We performed a cross-sectional investigation of SARS-CoV-2 clusters in Suzhou to determine the transmissibility of the virus among close contacts and to assess the demographic and clinical characteristics between index and secondary cases. Methods. We review the clustered patients with SARS-CoV-2 infections in Suzhou between 22 January and 29 February 2020. The demographic and clinical characteristics were compared between index and secondary cases. We calculated the basic reproduction number ( R 0 ) among close contacts with SLI model. Results. By 22 February, 87 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were reported, including 50 sporadic and 37 clustered cases, who were generated from 13 clusters. On admission, 5 (20.8%) out of 24 secondary cases were asymptomatic. The male ratio of index cases was significantly higher than that of secondary cases. Additionally, the index cases were more likely to have fever and increased CRP levels than the secondary cases. The R 0 values of clusters displayed a significantly declining trend over time for all clusters. The relative risk of infection in blood-related contacts of cases versus unrelated contacts was 1.60 for SARS-CoV-2 (95% CI: 0.42-2.95). Conclusions. In conclusion, SARS-CoV-2 has great person-to-person transmission capability among close contacts. The secondary cases are more prone to have mild symptoms than index cases. There is no increased RR of secondary infection in blood relatives versus unrelated contacts. The high rate of asymptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infections highlights the urgent need to enhance active case finding strategy for early detection of infectious patients.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 663-671
Author(s):  
Jing Wu ◽  
Xiao-ying Xia ◽  
He-lei Liu ◽  
Hong Xia ◽  
Wen-xiang Huang ◽  
...  

Aim: Data are limited on clinical characteristics and outcomes of recovered the 2019 coronavirus disease (COVID-19) patients with the reoccurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Patients & methods: Discharged patients in our hospital were included, who had recovered from COVID-19 with the reoccurrence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Results: Six patients were redetectable and positive for SARS-CoV-2 RNA after discharge from 3 to 15 days. The main symptoms, although no fever, included fatigue, dry cough and pharyngeal or chest discomfort, which were generally milder in the repositive period compared with the period of initial infection. Their laboratory indexes were significantly improved compared with the initial infection, and the pulmonary lesions were continuously improving. All close contacts were SARS-CoV-2 RNA-negative. Conclusion: No worsening outcomes or active transmission to close contacts were found for the repositive COVID-19 patients.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wei Zhang ◽  
Youshu Yuan ◽  
Zhengqiao Yang ◽  
Jinxia Fu ◽  
Yun Zhang ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTObjectivesIn December, 2019, a type of novel coronavirus which was designated novel coronavirus 2019 (2019-nCoV) by World Health Organization (WHO) occurred in Wuhan, Hubei, China. The epidemiological and clinical characteristics of those patients under 18 years old in the recovery stage are limited. To compare the difference of epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 involving 25 patients under 18 years old in recovery stage between confirmed and asymptomatic infections.MethodsRetrospective, single-center cohort study of COVID-19 involving 25 patients under 18 years old in the recovery stage at Guizhou Provincial Staff Hospital in Guiyang, China, from January 29, to March 31, 2020; final date of follow-up was April 22. Epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, radiological, and treatment data were collected and analyzed. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of confirmed COVID-19 infections and asymptomatic infections were compared.ResultsAmong the 25 COVID infections under 18 years old, 16 (64%) were mild or moderate confirmed cases, and 9 (36%) were asymptomatic. The shortest treatment period was 6 days, the longest 26 days, and the average treatment period 14 days. Four cases (44.4%) had visited Wuhan or had a living story in the city. There were 9 (100%) asymptomatic cases were familial cluster outbreak, with an average infection number was 6 cases among all families. The number of asymptomatic COVID-19 infections with leukopenia were significantly more than confirmed cases (p=0.04).ConclusionsLeukopenia mostly occurred in asymptomatic COVID-19 infections under 18 years old compared with the confirmed patients.Key PointIn this single-center case series involving 25 cases under 18 years old with COVID-19 infections, leukopenia mostly occurred in asymptomatic infections.


2001 ◽  
Vol 120 (5) ◽  
pp. A234-A234
Author(s):  
R HILSDEN ◽  
M VERHOEF ◽  
A BEST ◽  
R ENNS

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document