Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children - United States, February 12-April 2, 2020

Abstract

As of April 2, 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has resulted in >890,000 cases and >45,000 deaths worldwide, including 239,279 cases and 5,443 deaths in the United States (1,2). In the United States, 22% of the population is made up of infants, children, and adolescents aged <18 years (children) (3). Data from China suggest that pediatric COVID-19 cases might be less severe than cases in adults and that children might experience different symptoms than do adults (4,5); however, disease characteristics among pediatric patients in the United States have not been described. Data from 149,760 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States occurring during February 12-April 2, 2020 were analyzed. Among 149,082 (99.6%) reported cases for which age was known, 2,572 (1.7%) were among children aged <18 years. Data were available for a small proportion of patients on many important variables, including symptoms (9.4%), underlying conditions (13%), and hospitalization status (33%). Among those with available information, 73% of pediatric patients had symptoms of fever, cough, or shortness of breath compared with 93% of adults aged 18-64 years during the same period; 5.7% of all pediatric patients, or 20% of those for whom hospitalization status was known, were hospitalized, lower than the percentages hospitalized among all adults aged 18-64 years (10%) or those with known hospitalization status (33%). Three deaths were reported among the pediatric cases included in this analysis. These data support previous findings that children with COVID-19 might not have reported fever or cough as often as do adults (4). Whereas most COVID-19 cases in children are not severe, serious COVID-19 illness resulting in hospitalization still occurs in this age group. Social distancing and everyday preventive behaviors remain important for all age groups as patients with less serious illness and those without symptoms likely play an important role in disease transmission (6,7).

Conflict of interest statement

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. No potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

Figures

FIGURE 1

COVID-19 cases in children aged † — United States, February 24–April 2, 2020§<Fig_Large></Fig_Large> * Includes infants, children, and adolescents. † Excludes 23 cases in children aged <18 years with missing report date. § Date of report available starting February 24, 2020; reported cases include any with onset on or after February 12, 2020.

FIGURE 2

COVID-19 cases among children aged † by age group and hospitalization status — United States, February 12–April 2, 2020 Abbreviation: ICU = intensive care unit. * Includes infants, children, and adolescents. † Number of children missing hospitalization status by age group: <1 year (303 of 398; 76%); 1–4 years (189 of 291; 65%); 5–9 years (275 of 388; 71%); 10–14 years (466 of 682; 68%); 15–17 years (594 of 813; 73%).