"Autumn marks the start of respiratory virus season, when colds, flu and other bugs start circulating - especially among the very young. A recent study confirmed what many families intuitively know: The littlest students harbor the most germs. Children in pre-kindergarten and elementary school showed highest rates of virus detection compared with older students and staff, according to research published in the journal Pediatrics."
"Goldman and her colleagues analyzed nasal swabs and symptom reports from more than 800 students and staff in a large school district in Kansas City from November 2022 to May 2023. They found that overall, more than 85% of all participants had at least one respiratory virus detected during that time and more than 80% had an episode of acute respiratory illness - though not necessarily at the same time."
"More telling, 92% of pre-K and elementary school kids had a virus detected, compared with about 86% of middle school students, about 77% of high school students and 76% of staff. The pre-K kids, ages 3 to 5, had the highest rates of actual illness, too, the study found. Most of the viruses were the kinds that cause the common cold, including rhinovirus, which was found in 65% of participants, and types of seasonal coronavirus detected in about 30%."
More than 800 students and staff in a large Kansas City school district underwent nasal swab testing and symptom reporting from November 2022 to May 2023. Overall, over 85% of participants had at least one respiratory virus detected and more than 80% experienced an episode of acute respiratory illness, not necessarily at the same time. Detection rates were highest in pre-kindergarten and elementary students (92%), followed by middle school (86%), high school (77%), and staff (76%). Children ages 3 to 5 had the highest illness rates. Rhinovirus appeared in 65% of participants, seasonal coronaviruses in about 30%, and SARS-CoV-2 in about 15%.
Read at The Mercury News
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