COVID-19 in a Subset of Hospitalized Children in Israel.
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc
; 10(7): 757-765, 2021 Aug 17.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1269586
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Most pediatric coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is mild. We assessed nationally severe COVID-19, including pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS), in hospitalized children.METHODS:
An ongoing, prospective, national surveillance was conducted from March 2020 through March 2021, at 20 hospitals treating children <18 years across Israel (~75% of Israeli hospitals).RESULTS:
Overall, 1007 cases (439 outpatients and 568 hospitalized) identified represent 0.35% of pediatric COVID-19 nationwide (n = 291 628). Of hospitalized cases, 464 (82%), 48 (8%), and 56 (10%) had mild, moderate/severe, and PIMS disease, respectively. The mean ± SD age was 5.6 ± 6.4 years. In mild, moderate/severe, and PIMS disease, 55%, 23%, and 4% of patients were <1 year old, respectively. Obesity was reported in 1%, 4%, and 13% of patients, respectively (P < .001). The most common symptom was fever in 67%, 60%, and 100%, respectively, whereas respiratory symptoms were documented in 33%, 41%, and 38% of patients, respectively. Lymphopenia was recorded in 25%, 60%, and 86% of cases, respectively. PIMS diagnosis was mainly serology-based (in 59%). Gastrointestinal symptoms, cardiovascular involvement, rash, and conjunctivitis were noted in 82%, 61%, 57%, and 34% of PIMS episodes, respectively. Elevated C-reactive protein (100%), ferritin, troponin, D-dimer, low albumin, and thrombocytopenia were common in PIMS. Echocardiography revealed pathological findings in 33% of patients. PIMS mainstay treatment included corticosteroids (77%) and intravenous immunoglobulin (53%). No mortality was recorded.CONCLUSIONS:
At a national level, pediatric COVID-19 is mild, even in hospitalized cases, with only a third presenting with respiratory involvement. PIMS is rare, but necessitates a high index of suspicion, and with suitable treatment prognosis is favorable.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
Country/Region as subject:
Asia
Language:
English
Journal:
J Pediatric Infect Dis Soc
Year:
2021
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jpids
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