ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Wuhan, considerable attention has been paid on its epidemiology and clinical characteristics in children patients. However, it is also crucial for clinicians to summarize and investigate the co-infection of SARS-CoV-2 in children.We retrospectively reviewed the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, and imaging characteristics of COVID-19 patients in co-infection group (CI, nâ=â27) and single infection group (SI, nâ=â54). Samples were tested for multiple pathogens.A high incidence (27/81, 33%) of co-infection in children with COVID-19 was revealed. The most frequent co-infected pathogen was mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP, 20/81, 25%), followed by virus (6/81, 7%), and bacteria (4/81, 5%). No significant difference in clinical characteristics, laboratory examinations, or hospital stay was observed between the patients with co-infections and those with monomicrobial, only lower in white blood cell counts (CI: 5.54â±â0.36 vs SI: 7.38â±â0.37, Pâ=â.002), neutrophil counts (CI: 2.20â±â0.20 vs SI: 2.92â±â0.23, Pâ=â.024) and lymphocyte counts (CI: 2.72â±â0.024 vs SI: 3.87â±â0.28, Pâ=â.006). Compared with the patients with monomicrobial, chest imaging of those with co-infections showed consolidation in more cases (CI: 29.6% vs SI: 11.1%, Pâ=â.038) and duration of positive in nucleic acid was shorter (CI: 6.69â±â0.82 vs SI: 9.69â±â0.74, Pâ=â.015).Co-infection was relatively common in children with COVID-19, almost 1/3 had co-infection, most commonly caused by MP. Co-infection did not cause a significant exacerbation in clinical manifestations.