Typical and Atypical Clinical Presentation of COVID-19 Infection in Children in the Top of Pandemic in EL-Minia Governorate (Two Center Experience)

Abstract

Background: A novel coronavirus that is identified as the cause of pandemic situation inFebruary2020 and affects adults and children with variable presentation and outcome. Objective: We studied the typical and atypical clinical and laboratory presentation of COVID-19 during the peak of the first wave in two main referral hospitals, upper Egypt EL-Minia governorate. Methods: Among 88 children with suspected cases tested for COVID-19, only 22 proved to be positive. Studied patients were classified into three groups based on age. The first group was 2-5years, the second was 5-10years, and the third included those aged more than 10 years. All patients met diagnostic guidelines established by the Egyptian Ministry of Health. Results: out of the positive 22 (25%) patients, 13(59.1%) of them were male, while 9 (40.9%) were females. All enrolled patients have a history of near contact exposure (100%). Thrombocytopenia was the highest presenting symptom in all enrolled patients18 (81.8%), while other hematological findings were anemia in 11 (50%), thrombotic symptoms in 2 (9.1%), pancytopenia in 2(9.1%) while bleeding was found in 1 patient (4.5%). Fever, present in 16 (72.7%), the most common constitutional symptom in COVID-19, was not reported in all enrolled patients, while sore throat was reported in only 2 patients (9.1%). The respiratory presentation was only dominant in positive chest C.T. finding, 17(72.3%), rather than clinical symptoms; GUT symptoms were the dominant presenting features as vomiting was found in 15 (68.2%), diarrhea in 10 (45.5%), abdominal pain in 11 (50%), jaundice in 9 (40.9%) and dehydration in 6 (27.3%). Neurological symptoms were convulsions in 4 (18.2%), while encephalopathy was 2 (9.1%). Nephritis was the only renal presentation in the enrolled patients, 3 (13.6%). Cardiac presentations were only cyanosis 8 (36.4%) and arrhythmias 6 (27.3%). Conclusion: COVID-19 has many clinical classic presentations in children; however other non-typical presentations like hematological, CNS, and renal presentations have been reported.