Prolonged presence of SARS-CoV-2 in feces of pediatric patients during the convalescent phase

Yuhan Xing; Wei Ni; Qin Wu; Wenjie Li; Guoju Li; Jianning Tong; Xiufeng Song; Quansheng Xing

On December 12, 2019, 27 pneumonia cases of unknown cause emerged in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. 1 The etiological agent was identified as a novel coronavirus and was later renamed as severe acute respiratory coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by the world health organization (WHO). 2, 3 The pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has wreaked havoc in China and spread rapidly to about ninety countries, constituting a global threat with the highest risk impact. 4 Epidemiological evidence gained in China suggested that most individuals lack relevant immunity and are generally susceptible to the virus. The majority of published studies of COVID-19 focused on adult populations. [5] [6] [7] [8] While knowledge on SARS-CoV-2 infection in children are still yet to be fully developed and only a limited number of case reports of pediatric patients are currently available. [9] [10] [11] [12] As of February 23, 2020, a cumulative total of 60 confirmed COVID-19 cases were temperature for more than 3 days", "with obvious features of absorption of inflammation shown in lung imaging" and "negative results of the nucleic acid tests of respiratory pathogens for consecutive two times [sampling interval at least 1 day]"). 13