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Table 2 Utility of symptoms identified on symptom screener for identifying COVID cases in children with illness symptoms (n = 2167)

From: Utility of illness symptoms for predicting COVID-19 infections in children

 

% of cohort with this symptom

Positive Likelihood Ratio (95% CI)

Number Needed to Screen

Estimated missed school days

Among children with illness symptoms, how much does having this symptom change the likelihood of testing positive for COVID-19?

How many children with illness symptoms need to be screened for this symptom to find 1 case of COVID-19?

How many school days will be missed by children with this symptom

to find 1 case of COVID-19?

In 5–18 year olds (n = 1207), any presence of

 CDC-listed COVID-19 symptoms for school exclusion and immediate testing [2, 3, 5]

Fever or chills

46.1%

1.11 (0.94–1.31)

15

20

Sore Throata

42.7%

1.00 (0.78–1.29)

15

19

Headachea

39.3%

1.45 (1.16–1.80)*

12

14

Cough

36.3%

1.24 (1.03–1.51)*

17

18

Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea

30.0%

0.68 (0.50–0.92)*

34

31

Shortness of Breath

5.0%

1.26 (0.65–2.44)

121

18

Nasal Congestion/Rhinorrhea

43.7%

1.01 (0.84–1.22)

17

22

Fatigueb

34.5%

2.17 (1.29–3.63)*

35

36

Muscle Aches

18.7%

1.44 (1.08–1.93)*

29

16

Loss of taste or smell

6.0%

3.57 (2.27–5.61)*

46

8

 Other illness symptoms potentially used for school exclusion

Conjunctivitisc

3.7%

1.09 (0.34–3.53)

256

21

Rash||

3.1%

0.20 (0.03–1.43)

1055

99

Abdominal Paina

20.7%

0.56 (0.32–0.98)*

51

32

Self-reported COVID-19 contactd

24.0%

5.26 (4.37–6.33)*

9

7

In 0–4 year olds (n = 960), any presence of

 CDC-listed COVID-19 symptoms for school exclusion and immediate testing

Fever or chills

54.6%

1.31 (1.11–1.54)*

18

30

Cough

38.6%

0.77 (0.54–1.09)

42

48

Nausea, Vomiting, or Diarrhea

23.5%

0.77 (0.47–1.25)

69

48

Sore Throata

12.7%

1.40 (0.70–2.77)

55

21

Headachea

5.9%

0.70 (0.17–2.86)

221

39

Shortness of Breath

1.0%

2.91 (0.63–13)

480

15

 

Nasal Congestion/Rhinorrhea

51.6%

1.05 (0.85–1.31)

23

36

Fatigueb

20.2%

1.37 (0.51–3.73)

86

52

Muscle Aches

3.3%

1.66 (0.60–4.61)

240

24

Loss of taste or smell

0.1%

0.00 (0.16–93)

#

#

 Other illness symptoms potentially used for school exclusion and testing

Rashd

4.7%

0.92 (0.29–2.91)

291

41

Conjunctivitisc

1.7%

1.54 (0.20–12)

777

39

Abdominal Paina

9.8%

0.63 (0.20–1.95)

147

43

Self-reported COVID-19 contactd

18.4%

5.87 (4.67–7.38)*

16

9

  1. Includes children from all 3 sites combined, with and without reported COVID exposure. Assumes that each child sent for COVID-19 testing misses 3 days of school, for PCR testing.
  2. CI   Confidence Interval
  3. aIncludes only children tested at Site 2 and 3; Site 1 symptom screener did not include
  4. bIncludes only children tested at Site 2; Sites 1 and 3 symptom screeners did not include
  5. cIncludes only children tested at Site 1 and 2; Site 3 symptom screener did not include
  6. dSymptom added to Site 1 screener during study, number needed to screen excludes children not screened for symptom
  7. *p < 0.05