Do children need a longer time to shed SARS-CoV-2 in stool than adults?

Area of Science:

• Virology
• Pediatrics
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA has been detected in the stool of patients during the recovery phase.
• The duration of viral shedding in stool may differ between pediatric and adult populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the potential reasons for prolonged SARS-CoV-2 shedding in the stool of children compared to adults.
• To evaluate the clinical implications of fecal viral shedding in patient recovery and discharge.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of fecal SARS-CoV-2 shedding duration in pediatric and adult patient cohorts.
• Exploration of potential biological or clinical factors influencing shedding patterns.

Main Results:

• Children exhibit a significantly longer shedding period of SARS-CoV-2 in their stool than adults.
• The study identified key differences in shedding dynamics between the two age groups.

Conclusions:

• Prolonged fecal shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in children warrants further investigation into its clinical significance.
• Recommendations are made to consider negative stool sample results as part of the discharge criteria for all patients, particularly children.