Evaluation of inflammatory and hematological parameters in patients diagnosed with COVID-19.

INTRODUCTION: This study aims to research the effects of hematological and inflammatory parameters on the prognosis of COVID-19 disease and hospitalization duration. METHODOLOGY: One hundred and eighty-six patients with COVID-19 and a control group consisting of 187 healthy individuals were included in the study. Hematological variables and inflammatory parameters of the patients were recorded on the first and the fifth days of hospitalization. RESULTS: White blood cell count, lymphocyte count, and platelet count were statistically lower, and mean platelet volume (MPV), neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and platelet to lymphocyte ratio (PLR) levels were higher in the patient group compared to the control group. It was observed that the neutrophil count and MPV level were lower, and the platelet count and ferritin level were statistically higher on the fifth day of follow-up compared to the admission day. In contrast, there was a significantly positive correlation between the duration of hospitalization and the fifth day D-dimer (r = 0.546, p < 0.001) and ferritin (r = 0.568, p < 0.001); in addition, there was a negative correlation between the duration of hospitalization and admission day lymphocyte count and the fifth-day lymphocyte count. CONCLUSIONS: Increased levels of ferritin and D-dimer, and decreased count of lymphocytes are among the important factors affecting the duration of hospitalization for COVID-19 patients. Furthermore, we think that neutrophil count and MPV levels are low, and platelet count and ferritin levels are high during the disease. Therefore, these parameters can be used as prognostic indicators of the disease.

Which COVID-19 Patients Die in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in Turkey

A comparison of deceased and surviving patients showed that being female, older than 62, and a smoker and having diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and/or coronary artery disease significantly increased mortality. Information about the patients' age, gender, comorbidities, duration of hospitalization, COVID-19-related lung tomography findings, hemogram parameters (white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil, lymphocyte, and platelet counts, haemoglobin level, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratios (PLR), biochemical parameters, and ventilatory support [mechanical ventilation, non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIMV), high-flow oxygen (HFNO)] were retrospectively accessed in the hospital records. Since the first COVID-19 case was admitted on 15 March, 2020, a total of 618 patients have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in our hospital. The comparison of the deceased and surviving patients also displayed that smoking (p=0.004), diabetes mellitus (p=0.007), hypertension (p=0.042), and coronary artery disease (p=0.049) statistically increased mortality. In our study, the comparison of the laboratory parameters of the deceased and surviving patients showed that the platelet (p=0.006), white blood cell (p=0.048), and neutrophil counts (p=0.033), and NLR (p=0.010) and PLR (p=0.033) were significantly higher in the deceased group compared to the surviving group.

Pediatrik COVID-19 ve Yaklaşımı

Studies on the clinical and demographic characteristics of SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome causing Coronavirus) infection in the pediatric population are limited. Pneumonia is a serious cause of mortality in childhood age groups, and we aimed to systematically review the clinical findings of SARS-CoV-2 infection and the management of childhood pandemics in our university hospital during the pandemic. Bu durum çocukluk çaǧında COVID-19 ile olası ilişkili çoklu sistemik inflamatuvar sendrom (MIS-c) olarak tanımlanmıştır (14,15). Yenidoǧan resüsitasyon işlemi doǧum salonunda gerçekleştirilmeli ve bebeǧin bu amaçla transfer edilmesinden kaçınılmalıdır.

Evaluation of Hematological Parameters of Children Diagnosed with COVID-19: Single-Center Experience.

OBJECTIVE: Although many pediatric studies on children infected with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been published, the diagnosis, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and treatment of COVID-19 in children are still unclear. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was conducted with an aim to examine the hematological findings of symptomatic pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19 in May 2020 at the Pandemic Hospital in Dicle University. Patient records were evaluated retrospectively. This study involved 59 symptomatic pediatric patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 who had positive SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR test results on nasopharyngeal swab between March 15, 2020 and May 31, 2020. RESULTS: The records of a total of 10 (16.9%) patients under the age of 1; 21 (35.6%) patients aged 1-10 years, and, 28 (47.5%) patients aged 10-18 years, who had been diagnosed with COVID-19 were evaluated. Based on severity, 35 (59.3%) patients were in the mild group (group 1) and 24 (40.7%) patients were in the moderate-severe group (group 2). The blood parameters of WBC, neutrophil, lymphocyte, monocyte, and thrombocyte counts, the hemoglobin (Hgb) level, and NLR, PLR, MPV, fibrinogen, ferritin, and D-dimer levels were compared between groups, the difference was not statistically significant (P > .05). LDH was higher in group 2 (P = .014). CONCLUSION: Since children infected with COVID-19 show mild clinical symptoms or are asymptomatic, fewer pediatric patients may be detected than adults. Therefore, it should be known that the laboratory findings typical for adults may not accompany the disease in pediatric cases. More studies are needed to determine the most appropriate COVID-19 treatment approach for children, as hospitalization history and testing rates are less reported among children.

Does Covid-19 in children have a milder course than Influenza?

BACKGROUND: In December 2019, a novel type of coronavirus infection emerged in the Wuhan province of China and began to spread rapidly. In this study, we aimed to determine the differences between COVID-19 disease and Influenza. METHODS: This retrospective study included 164 children with COVID-19, as well as 46 children with Influenza. The two groups were compared with respect to clinical and laboratory parameters and the rates of intensive care and mechanical ventilation requirement. RESULTS: In both groups, the most common admission complaints were fever and cough. As compared to the COVID-19 group, the Influenza group had significantly higher rates of cough (37 [80.4%] and 38 [23.2%]), fever (31 [67.4%] and 34 [20.7%]), muscle pain (34 [73.9%] and 31 [18.9%]), vomiting (13 [28.9%] and 8 [4.9%]) and tachypnea (32 [69.6%] and 3 [1.8%]) (P < .01 for all comparisons). The mean WBC count (7.10 ± 1.08 vs. 10.90 ± 1.82), mean neutrophil count (3.19 ± 0.58 vs. 6.04 ± 0.97), APTT, CRP, procalcitonin, ALT, and LDH levels were significantly lower in the COVID-19 group compared to the Influenza group (P < .05 for all comparisons). There was, however, no significant difference between the mean lymphocyte counts of both groups. The Influenza group had significantly higher rates of intensive care requirement (19 [41.3%] vs. 3 [1.8%]) and mechanical ventilation requirement (16 [34.8%] vs. 2 [1.2%]) as well as a significantly higher mortality rate (7 [15.2%] vs. 2 [1.2%]) than the COVID-19 group (P < .01). CONCLUSION: COVID-19 and Influenza may share similar clinical features. According to our findings, however, we believe that COVID-19 disease has a milder clinical and laboratory course than Influenza in children.

Evaluation of the novel coronavirus disease in Turkish children: Preliminary outcomes.

BACKGROUND: The novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) can progress with mild to moderate or self-limiting clinical findings in children. The aim of this study was to investigate the disease features of Covid-19 in Turkish children. METHODS: Children diagnosed by the method of real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction for Covid-19 at the Dicle University Department of Pediatric, between April and June 2020, were evaluated. Hospital records were investigated retrospectively. RESULTS: One hundred and five patients children with the mean age of 108.64 ± 65.61 months were enrolled in this study. The most common cause of transmission in pediatric patients was in contact with a family member diagnosed with COVID-19 (n = 91, 86.7%). The most common admission complaints were dry cough (n = 17, 16.2%), fever (n = 16, 15.2%), lassitude and fatigue (n = 14, 13.3%) respectively. More than 95% of all children with Covid-19 were asymptomatic, mild, or moderate cases. CRP was identified only independent factor associated with long duration of hospitalization. CONCLUSION: The results of this study show the effect of Covid-19 on Turkish children. A clear understanding of the local epidemiology of corona virus infections and identification of risk factors are critical for the successful implementation of the prevention and control program.