Children transmit little coronavirus, new study finds

“Children seem less contaminated [speak[parleCovid-19] and less contaminating “. Professor Robert Cohen, pediatrician at Creteil (Val-de-Marne) and vice-president of the French Pediatric Society, summarizes one of the main lessons from a new study devoted to the role of the youngest in the spread of the coronavirus epidemic, and which he coordinated the research. He was speaking in the newspaper columns The world , this Thursday, June 4.

These works are going in the same direction that the study carried out by Santé publique France in Haute-Savoie, and whose conclusions published at the end of May indicated that children would transmit little Covid-19. Conversely, other scientists argued in mid-March that children were vectors of the disease.

“In nine out of ten cases, it is sick adults who contaminate children”

The authors of this new study studied the health of 605 patients under the age of 15 in Ile-de-France, territory hard hit by the epidemic, between April 14 and May 12. All were followed by city pediatricians, and 27 specialized practitioners participated in this work, further specifies The world.

The results of serological tests, which can detect the presence of antibodies and determine if a person has contracted Covid-19 even without developing symptoms, were positive in 10.7% of the young people participating in the study. In contrast, PCR tests, which determine if a person is a carrier of the coronavirus at the time of the latter, were positive in 1.8% of them.

“But looking at this last figure more closely, we were really surprised to see that only 0.6% was contagious”, completes Professor Robert Cohen in an interview at Parisian . And “In nine out of ten cases, it is sick adults who contaminate children and not vice versa”, he adds. These elements allow the scientist to say that children “Are very small contaminators”.

The track of cross immunity

But how can this trend be explained? The pediatrician puts forward several lines of reflection, still in the columns of the Parisian. First, the youngest “Appear to have fewer virus receptors on their nasal mucosa”. Then they could also “Be more protected because they have already caught other coronaviruses”. This is cross immunity, he adds.

Another hypothesis, “They always have a runny nose and are therefore more resistant to infections”. Professor Robert Cohen brings up another element, “More anecdotal” according to him : “We wonder if their small size is not an asset: we do not receive their postilions in the face”.

The study also provides lessons for the return to school of children. The pediatrician argues for a faster return to class, citing risks such as dropping out of school or loss of social connection.

However, he judges the health protocol which defines the conditions of school life at the time of the coronavirus “Not applicable”. And Professor Robert Cohen still believes that grandparents can keep their grandchildren, provided, among other things, “Do not be too many in the living room and limit hugs”.

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