Recommended Citation
Seibold M, Moore C, Everman J, Williams B, Nolin J, Fairbanks-Mahnke A, Plender E, Patel B, Arbes S, Bacharier L, Bendixsen C, Calatroni A, Camargo C, Dupont W, Furuta G, Gebretsadik T, Gruchalla R, Gupta R, Hershey GK, Murrison L, Jackson D, Johnson C, Kattan M, Liu A, Lussier S, O'Connor G, River-Spoljaric K, Phipatanakul W, Rothenberg M, Seroogy C, Teach S, Zoratti E, Togias A, Fulkerson P, and Hartert T. SARS-CoV-2 surveillance in households with and without asthmatic/allergic children: The Human Epidemiology and Response to SARS-CoV-2 study (HEROS). J Allergy Clin Immunol 2022; 149(2):AB325.
Document Type
Conference Proceeding
Publication Date
2-2022
Publication Title
J Allergy Clin Immunol
Abstract
Rationale: Whether children and people with asthma and allergic diseases are at increased risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection is not known. Neither is their role in household transmission.
Methods: Biweekly nasal sample collections and weekly surveys were conducted to identify incident SARS-CoV-2 infections among children (<13 >years) and teenagers (13-21 years) enrolled in asthma/allergic disease focused cohorts, and their household members, from May 2020-February 2021. Probability of subject/household infections and household transmissions were calculated using time-to-event analyses, and factors associated with infection and transmission risk using regression analyses.
Results: Household (N=1,394) and subject (N=4,142) SARS-CoV-2 infection probability was 25.8% and 14.0%, respectively, and was similar for children (14.0%,CI:8.0-19.6%), teenagers (12.1%,CI:8.2-15.9%), and adults (14.0%,CI:9.5-18.4%). Infections were symptomatic in 24.5% of children, 41.2% of teenagers, and 62.5% of adults. Exposure to both symptomatic (aHR=87.39,CI:58.02-131.63) and asymptomatic (aHR=27.80,CI:17.16–45.03) infected household members was a risk factor for infection. Food allergy was associated with decreased infection risk (aHR=0.50,CI:0.32-0.81), but asthma was not (aHR=1.04,CI:0.73-1.46). Household infection risk was associated with attending in-person school (aHR=1.67,CI:1.09-2.57). Household secondary attack rate was 57.7%. Decreased risk of household transmission was associated with teen age, lower BMI, and lower viral load.
Conclusions: Asthma does not increase risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, while food allergy is protective. SARS-CoV-2 infection risk in children is similar to that of teenagers and adults. SARS-CoV-2 transmission risk and secondary attack rate is much higher than previously estimated in households with children, likely driven by the high frequency of asymptomatic childhood infections.
Volume
149
Issue
2
First Page
AB325
