Clinical Profile of COVID-19 Infection and SARS-Cov-2 IgG Antibody Response in Children under 18 Years of Age in a Tertiary Care Centre in North Kerala

Background: The Global Pandemic Coronavirus disease, was first reported in December 2019 in Wuhan and in March 11, 2020, got declared as global pandemic by World Health Organisation (WHO) . The morbidity and mortality of the disease have been rising with second wave of pandemic hitting worldwide.

Objectives: To study the clinical profile of children under 18 years of age with COVID-19 infection and to study the IgG antibody response in covid infected children.

Materials and Methods: Children under 18 years of age except neonates who had COVID-19 infection and recovered from MMC Covid hospital were included for the study. After discharge blood samples were tested for COVID-19 IgG Antibody using SARS-CoV-2 IgG Reagent Kit 6R86 by Abbott Ireland diagnostics division. Data was entered into Microsoft excel sheet and statistical analysis done with SPSS VERSION 21.

Results: Children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were taken up for the study. Median age in this study was 10 years. All affected children got infection from their family members. Fever as the presenting symptom were found in 62% children. Ninteen children showed positive IgG antibody and 2 out of 21 children showed negative IgG antibody level . There is significant association between IgG titre and timing of antibody testing after infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus

Conclusion: Clinical profile and spectrum of COVID-19 infection were similar in all family members. Measures to prevent transmission of infection from family members to children will decrease infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in children. Antibody following infection by the SARS-CoV-2 virus will last only for few months, making children susceptible to covid infection again. Vaccination among children is necessary to prevent rapid spread of covid infection.