Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 versus other upper respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients

Abstract

Objectives: To explore the differences between COVID-19 and upper respiratory tract infections)URTI(in the pediatric population, emphasizing smell and taste disturbances. Methods: A case-control study included 468 patients, 234 with COVID-19)cases(and 234 with URTI)controls(at a tertiary hospital, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from 2020-2021. Patients with bacterial URTI, lower tract respiratory infections, and speech or developmental delays were excluded. Statistical analysis was carried out using Statistical Analysis System, 9.2 version. A p-value of ≤0.05 was considered significant. Results: The male-to-female ratio was almost equal, with a mean age of 9.90±2.34. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that a change in taste significantly increases the probability of COVID-19 by 21.98 times. On the other hand, sore throat)81.5%(, dyspnea)63.5%(, nasal obstruction)72.7%(, and otalgia significantly)74.8%(decrease the likelihood of COVID-19. Conclusion: Taste disturbances increase the probability of COVID-19 infections, whereas sore throat, dyspnea, nasal obstruction, and otalgia increase the likelihood of other URTIs. The described differences might aid physicians in their differential diagnosis and treatment during the pandemic.