Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in children: Experience in two hospitals

Abstract

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic is the most significant current public health crisis. Methods: We conducted a retrospective case series, including patients under 18 years of age admitted to respiratory triage and hospitalized with COVID-19 infection in two hospital centers. Epidemiological, clinical, laboratory and radiological findings were documented. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). For the analysis, patients were classified into three groups: No comorbidities, immunocompromised, and with chronic disease. Results: Fifty-four patients with COVID-19 were identified: 40 (74.1%) were admitted through respiratory triage. Of these, 28 (70%) were hospitalized, and 14 (25.9%) were already in the hospital. In addition, 26 (48.1%) presented comorbidities. A mild clinical course was observed in 14 cases (53.7%). The mean age was 6 years, with an interquartile range from 11 months to 13 years. The male sex was more frequent, representing 59.3%. Fever was the most common symptom in 74% of the patients. Lymphopenia was observed in 28.6%, and 69.3% had elevated C-reactive protein. Ground glass injuries were documented in 30.9% of COVID-19 cases; 11.1% of the patients required mechanical ventilation and vasopressor treatment. Conclusions: Fever was the main symptom, and mild infection was the principal presentation. In hospitalized patients with some comorbidity and COVID-19, the disease was more severe, with a high percentage of mortality.