According to epidemiological models, the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Île-de-France as of 11 May was between 10 and 15%. Preliminary data on the number of professionals evicted from nurseries on suspicion of COVID-19 (on clinical grounds) seem to be of the same order of magnitude, but need to be confirmed by a biological technique. Children would be susceptible to infection but often asymptomatic.
SARS-CoV-2, an emerging respiratory virus of the coronavirus family, is responsible for a
global pandemic of which Europe has become the epicentre. Infection with the virus causes a
disease called COVID-19, whose expression most often includes cough, fever, fatigue, myalgia,
anosmia, ageusia and gastrointestinal symptoms, and which can be complicated by severe
pneumonia requiring resuscitation and which can lead to death. Morbidity and mortality are
clearly age-related and while illness and hospitalisations occur in all age groups, deaths
occur mostly in the older age groups.
In the absence of curative treatment and vaccination, the only real measures capable of
slowing the progression of the disease are large-scale social distancing measures. In analogy
to community-based viral epidemics such as seasonal influenza, children were initially
considered a potential vector of transmission, which led to the preventive measure of school
closures. In France, this closure came into force on 14 March 2020.
Children are considered to be little affected by the coronavirus-19 epidemic because even if
screening strategies differ, they represent less than 3% of the cases confirmed in the
various studies.
In a period of confinement and reduction in the number of children cared for, in a crèche for
children of healthcare workers, in a context of proximity and high risk of cross
transmission, the frequency of symptomatic and asymptomatic forms of SARS-Cov-2 in children
and staff would be comparable to the general population.
We hypothesize a susceptibility to infection in children but low transmission, which should
lead to a cumulative prevalence of infection among daycare staff comparable to that obtained
in a sample of professionals who do not come into contact with children in their work (here
hospital laboratory and administrative staff).
Diagnostic Test: Rapid detection test
Rapid serological test by taking 3 drops of blood from the fingertip via the TDR device (rapid detection test) for children, supervising nursery staff and hospital laboratory and administrative staff
Diagnostic Test: Nasopharyngeal swab
Posterior nasopharyngeal swabbing in children
Diagnostic Test: Stool collection
Stool collection in children
Inclusion Criteria:
Population 1 :
- Children of priority staff welcomed in the crèche during the period of confinement,
i.e. from 15 March to 9 May, regardless of the length of time they are in the crèche
during this period and their "symptomatic or not" status during this period or on the
day of inclusion.
- Consent of the holders of parental authority
- Affiliated to a social security system or entitled person
Population 2 :
- Nursery staff, regardless of their status/occupation and having had contact with the
children during the period of confinement regardless of how long they have been in the
nursery during this period and their "symptomatic or not" status during this period or
on the day of inclusion.
- Consent to participate
- Affiliated to a social security system or entitled person
Population 3 :
- Hospital staff not exposed to patients and/or children, with or without children in
day care, working in the bacteriology, biochemistry and biological haematology
laboratories or in an administrative department of the participating hospitals.
- Affiliated to a social security system or entitled person
Exclusion Criteria:
Population 1 :
- Refusal to sign consent by parents
- Clinical condition requiring urgent medical assessment (attending physician or
transfer to paediatric emergency)
Population 2 and 3 :
- Refusal to sign consent for staff
- Clinical condition requiring urgent medical evaluation
Hopital Avicenne
Bobigny, France
Hôpital Jean Verdier - Service de Pédiatrie
Bondy, France
Hôpital Jean Verdier
Bondy, France
Hôpital Antoine béclère
Clamart, France
Hôpital Louis Mourier
Colombes, France
CH intercommunal de Créteil
Créteil, France
Hôpital Andé Mignot
Le Chesnay, France
Hôpital Trousseau
Paris, France
Hôpital Robert debré
Paris, France
CHU de Rouen
Rouen, France
Hôpital Annecy Genevois
Épagny, France
Eric LACHASSINNE, MD, Principal Investigator
Assistance Publique - Hôpitaux de Paris