Cross-sectional study detects SARS-CoV-2 RNA in stool and nasopharyngeal samples in children with gastroenteritis, suggesting fecal-oral transmission potential.
Key Points
This study aims to detect SARS-CoV-2 in stool specimens of children with gastroenteritis and compare it to nasopharyngeal swabs.
Cross-sectional design involving 136 children with suspected COVID-19 infection.
Samples collected 2–3 days after symptom onset, tested via rRT-PCR targeting RdRP and N genes.
Statistical comparison using Fisher’s exact probability test.
In non-diarrheal children, 46.7% of nasopharyngeal swabs and 73.3% of stool samples were positive (p = 0.137).
In diarrheal children, 53.7% of nasopharyngeal swabs and 71.9% of stool samples were positive, showing a significant difference (p = 0.003).
Findings suggest higher viral load and prolonged shedding of SARS-CoV-2 in fecal samples, indicating fecal-oral transmission risk.