Characteristics of eight pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) has attracted global attention for unexpected rapid transmission among coun-tries. Currently, little is known about the attributes of pediatric patients with COVID-19. Objectives: To describe the characteristics of pediatric patients with COVID-19. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the epidemiological, laboratory, imaging, and clinical data of pediatric patients with COVID-19 from January 31 to February 24, 2020. Results: A total of eight patients with COVID-19 were enrolled in this study. Two patients had underlying diseases. Seven children (87.5%) belonged to a family cluster outbreak. The most common symptoms were fever (50%), cough (37.5%), expectoration (37.5%), and Sore throat (37.5%). For the laboratory findings, all patients had positive nCoV-RNA results, three patients (37.5%) with abnormal white blood cell counts, and six patients (75%) with higher lymphocyte counts. Chest computed tomography (CT) showed ground-glass opacity or patchy shadows in 7 patients (87.5%). All patients received antiviral therapy. Additionally, four patients (50%) were treated with antibiotics, one with glucocorticoid atomization (12.5%), one with interferon atomization (12.5%), four patients (50%) with traditional Chinese medicine. All patients discharged within three weeks, without poor prognosis or recurrence after 14 days follow-up. Conclusions: Pediatric patients with COVID-19 were mainly transfected through family cluster outbreaks. The clinical manifesta-tions were mild without a typical pattern. High-resolution CT and nCoV-RNA tests have great value for early-stage diagnosis. Antiviral therapy is effective in treating viral pneumonia.