Clinical Management of Appendicitis and Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Children with COVID-19

Abstract

The novel coronavirus that swept the world into a pandemic in 2019 has affected many aspects of health care. COVID-19 has infected about 263 million people across the globe and led to the death of 5.2 million people. Its impact on various organs is still vague and requires further research. The increase in hospital visits and administrations has accordingly increased exposure and risk of obtaining the coronavirus. Patients previously hospitalized and being treated with immunosuppressants tend to be very susceptible to serious respiratory infections from the novel virus. Amongst the diseases that require hospitalization are ulcerative colitis and appendicitis. Hospitalization from such diseases inevitably increases the risk and exposure to COVID-19 infection. This study analyzed the management and procedures taken in patients with inflammatory bowel disease and appendicitis during the COVID-19 pandemic. Similarly, the effects of the pandemic on the pediatric ward and admitted children were also discussed and compared.