Digestive system symptoms and function in children with COVID-19: A meta-analysis.
Medicine (Baltimore)
; 100(11): e24897, 2021 Mar 19.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1138016
ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT The prevalence of children exhibiting coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) with digestive system involvement remains unknown. Therefore, we aimed to quantify the impact of COVID-19 on the digestive system of children.In this meta-analysis, we searched PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science from January 1, 2020, to June 31, 2020. We also searched for COVID-19 publications in specific journals for more comprehensive results. We included studies that reported the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of COVID-19, and we excluded duplicate publications, reviews, animal studies, case reports, publications without the full text, studies with incomplete information, and studies from which data extraction was impossible.We conducted a meta-analysis of the incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms and changes in liver function involving 19 studies. The pooled prevalence of diarrhea was 10% (95% CI 7-14; I2â =â84%), that of nausea or vomiting was 7% (95% CI 5-11; I2â =â77%), and that of abdominal pain was 4% (95% CI 2-9; I2â =â79%). In addition, the pooled incidence of increased alanine aminotransferase was 8% (95% CI 5-15; I2â =â46%), and the pooled incidence of increased AST was 15% (95% CI 9-26; I2â =â66%). The pooled rate of recovery was 97% (95% CI 94-100; I2â =â86%), and the pooled rate of death, which was 1% (95% CI 1-4; I2â =â48%), was much smaller than the recovery rate.Our research shows that digestive system symptoms and function in children with COVID-19 are not uncommon. More attention should be paid to this unique group of patients.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Digestive System Diseases
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Reviews
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Female
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Male
/
Infant, Newborn
Language:
English
Journal:
Medicine (Baltimore)
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
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