Cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children in Germany, June 2020 to May 2021
Nature Communications, vol. 13, pp. 3128
Abstract
The rate of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children remains unclear due to many asymptomatic cases. We present a study of cross-sectional seroprevalence surveys of anti-SARS-CoV-2 IgG in 10,358 children recruited in paediatric hospitals across Germany from June 2020 to May 2021. Seropositivity increased from 2.0% (95% CI 1.6, 2.5) to 10.8% (95% CI 8.7, 12.9) in March 2021 with little change up to May 2021. Rates increased by migrant background (2.8%, 4.4% and 7.8% for no, one and two parents born outside Germany). Children under three were initially 3.6 (95% CI 2.3, 5.7) times more likely to be seropositive with levels equalising later. The ratio of seropositive cases per recalled infection decreased from 8.6 to 2.8. Since seropositivity exceeds the rate of recalled infections considerably, serologic testing may provide a more valid estimate of infections, which is required to assess both the spread and the risk for severe outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Authors 31
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München · University of Tübingen · University Children's Hospital Tübingen
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Social Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
University Children's Hospital, Eberhard Karls University, 72076, Tuebingen, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
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Heidelberg University · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Affiliation as printed
Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
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Heidelberg University · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Affiliation as printed
Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Social Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
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RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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RWTH Aachen University · Universitätsklinikum Aachen
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty, University Hospital RWTH Aachen, 52074, Aachen, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Immunology, and Critical Care Medicine, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 13353, Berlin, Germany
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Technische Universität Dresden · University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital, and Medical Faculty Carl Gustav Carus, Technical University (TU) Dresden, 01307, Dresden, Germany
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Düsseldorf University Hospital · Heinrich Heine University Düsseldorf
Affiliation as printed
Department of General Paediatrics, Neonatology, and Paediatric Cardiology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital, Heinrich-Heine-University Düsseldorf, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
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University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
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University of Freiburg · University Medical Center Freiburg
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Centre, Medical Faculty, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
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German Center for Lung Research · Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen · University of Rostock · Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center · Universitätsmedizin Rostock
Affiliation as printed
Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre, German Centre of Lung Research, Department of Paediatrics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
University Medical Centre Rostock, Department of Paediatrics, University of Rostock, 18057, Rostock, Germany
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German Center for Lung Research · Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen · Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Center
Affiliation as printed
Universities of Giessen and Marburg Lung Centre, German Centre of Lung Research, Department of Paediatrics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, 35392, Giessen, Germany
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University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Affiliation as printed
University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Hamburg- Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf
Affiliation as printed
University Children's Hospital, University Medical Centre Hamburg- Eppendorf, 20246, Hamburg, Germany
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Excellence Cluster RESIST, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), EXS 2155, 30625, Hannover, Germany
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Medizinische Hochschule Hannover · Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Affiliation as printed
Centre for Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Excellence Cluster RESIST, Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG), EXS 2155, 30625, Hannover, Germany
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Universitätsklinikum des Saarlandes · Saarland University
Affiliation as printed
Department of General Paediatrics, Neonatology, Children's Hospital Medical Centre, Saarland University Hospital, 66421, Homburg/Saar, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, 47805, Krefeld, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics, Helios Klinikum Krefeld, 47805, Krefeld, Germany
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Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, University Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, 80337, Munich, Germany
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Technical University of Munich
Affiliation as printed
Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Technical University Munich, 80804, Munich, Germany
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Affiliation as printed
University Hospital of Wuerzburg, Department of Paediatrics, Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, 97080, Wuerzburg, Germany
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Heidelberg University · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Affiliation as printed
Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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Charité - Universitätsmedizin Berlin
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Virology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117, Berlin, Germany
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Rüdiger von Kries corresponding
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München
Affiliation as printed
Institute of Social Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany. Ruediger.kries@med.uni-muenchen.de
Institute of Social Paediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Paediatric Epidemiology, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 80336, Munich, Germany
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Heidelberg University · Medizinische Fakultät Mannheim
Affiliation as printed
Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics, Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, 68167, Mannheim, Germany
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