Epidemiological Trend of Paediatric COVID-19 in First and Second Wave of Corona Pandemic — An Observational Study

ABSTRACT

Objective: To compare the epidemiological trend of COVID-19 in pediatric patients in First and Second wave of Corona pandemic. Material and Methods: Data of all RTPCR samples for SARS-CoV-2 collected between June, 2020 and June, 2021, were retrospectively analyzed and compared between pediatric and adults in 1st and 2nd wave of pandemic in Central Hospital, North Western Railway Jaipur Rajasthan. Results: Total 9766 samples were collected, out of it paediatric samples were 533 which is 5.47% of total. 137 out of 533 paediatric samples reported positive for SARS-CoV-2. Overall paediatric positivity rate is 25.7% and adult positivity rate is 28.4%. Positivity rate, Hospitalization and death rate in First wave in paediatric population is 20.7%, 0% and 0% and for adult 29.5%, 30% and 0.29% respectively. In Second wave positivity rate, hospitalization and death rate for pediatric is 30.5%, 2.4%, 0% and for adult it is 27.7%, 32.8% and 5.16% respectively. Conclusion: Overall adult and paediatric positivity is comparable. Pediatric positivity increased significantly by 47.3% in Second wave specially in age group 6 to 12 years. Positivity is more in male child as compared to female. Though in Second wave more paediatric patients reported positive and 2 cases (2.4 %) required hospitalization also but no severe COVID infection or death was reported in children in this study