The study’s goal was to look at changes in viral shedding in respiratory and fecal samples from children with new coronavirus illness 19. Researchers searched the PubMed, SCOPUS, Embase, and Web of Science databases for pediatric studies comparing the pattern of fecal and respiratory shedding of SARS-CoV-2 RNA. Random-effects models were used to compute summary estimates. Four trials with a total of 36 children were included. When compared to respiratory samples, a greater proportion of children showed viral shedding in feces after 14 days of symptom onset.
When compared to respiratory samples, viral RNA shedding was longer in fecal samples, with a mean difference of roughly 9 days. SARS-CoV-2 shedding appears to be present in feces for a longer period of time than in children’s respiratory tracts. Although the presence of fecal SARS-CoV-2 in feces does not establish its transmissibility, the widespread and rapid spread of the new coronavirus illness 19 globally suggests that alternative modes of transmission are potentially possible.
Reference: https://journals.lww.com/jpgn/Fulltext/2020/08000/Prolonged_Fecal_Shedding_of_SARS_CoV_2_in.5.aspx
