COVID-19 deaths in children and young people in England, March 2020 to December 2021: An active prospective national surveillance study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths are rare in children and young people (CYP). The high rates of asymptomatic and mild infections complicate assessment of cause of death in CYP. We assessed the cause of death in all CYP with a positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test since the start of the pandemic in England.

Methods and findings

CYP aged <20 years who died within 100 days of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 01 March 2020 and 31 December 2021 in England were followed up in detail, using national databases, surveillance questionnaires, post-mortem reports, and clinician interviews. There were 185 deaths during the 22-month follow-up and 81 (43.8%) were due to COVID-19. Compared to non-COVID-19 deaths in C

SUBMITTER: Bertran M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9642873 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature