COVID-19 Pneumonia and Status Asthmaticus With Respiratory Failure in a Pediatric Patient: A Simulation for Emergency Medicine Providers.

Introduction: During COVID-19 surges, medical trainees may perform patient care outside typical clinical responsibilities. While respiratory failure in pediatric patients secondary to COVID-19 is rare, it is critical that providers can effectively care for these children while protecting the health care team. Simulation is an important tool for giving learners a safe environment in which to learn and practice these new skills. Methods: In this simulation, learners provided care to a 13-year-old male with obesity, COVID-19 pneumonia, status asthmaticus, and respiratory failure. Target learners were pediatric emergency medicine fellows and emergency medicine residents. Providers were expected to identify the signs and symptoms of status asthmaticus, pneumonia, and respiratory failure and demonstrate appropriate evaluation and management while minimizing COVID-19 exposure. Participants completed a postsimulation survey on their satisfaction and confidence in performing the objectives. Results: Twenty-eight PGY 1-PGY 6 learners participated in this simulation. The postsimulation survey showed that most learners felt the simulation was effective in teaching the evaluation and management of respiratory failure due to COVID-19 (M = 5.0; 95% CI, 4.9-5.0) and was relevant to their work (M = 5.0; 95% CI, 5.0-5.0). Discussion: Learners felt that the case was effective in teaching the skills needed to care for a child with COVID-19 pneumonia, status asthmaticus, and respiratory failure. Future directions include updating the case with new COVID-19 knowledge and personal protective equipment practices gained over time, using hybrid telesimulation to increase learners' exposure to the case, and adapting the case for other health care providers.

COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients: Observations from the Initial Phase of the Global Pandemic in Rhode Island.

OBJECTIVE: To describe characteristics of children undergoing SARS-CoV-2 testing during the initial wave of infections in Rhode Island. METHODS: This is a descriptive study of 729 children tested for SARS-CoV-2 at four emergency departments April 9 to May 7, 2020 in Rhode Island. Demographic information and symptoms were cataloged for those tested. RESULTS: 81 (11%) children tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. 94% of positive children were symptomatic. 74% of positive cases had constitutional symptoms and 72% had upper respiratory symptoms. While only 34% of those tested were Hispanic, 68% of the SARS-CoV-2- positive cases occurred in Hispanic children. CONCLUSION: This study details the pediatric population's experience during the first wave of the pandemic in Rhode Island. It could inform testing allocation strategies in healthcare settings. It also highlights vulnerable populations in need of further public health support in our state.

Immune Thrombocytopenia (ITP) in a Pediatric Patient Positive for SARS-CoV-2.

Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a potential presentation of COVID-19. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) viral testing should be considered in these patients to allow for appropriate hospital triaging and isolation to limit community spread and health care worker infection during epidemics or pandemics. ITP is characterized by isolated thrombocytopenia. Approximately two-thirds of children with primary ITP have a history of a viral infection during the previous month.1,2 Viruses commonly identified as triggers include cytomegalovirus, hepatitis C, herpes, varicella zoster, Epstein-Barr, influenza, and HIV.3-7 In this case report, we describe the first documented case of a pediatric patient with ITP who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. This case raises awareness of ITP as a possible pediatric presentation of coronavirus disease.