Characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Victorian children at a tertiary paediatric hospital.
J Paediatr Child Health
; 58(4): 618-623, 2022 04.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-1480192
ABSTRACT
AIM:
Victoria experienced two 'waves' of COVID-19 between March and September 2020 and more cases than any other jurisdiction in Australia. Although world-wide reports of COVID-19 reflect that children are less likely to experience severe disease compared with adults, hospitalisations and deaths have been reported. We report testing and outcomes of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection presenting to a tertiary paediatric hospital in Melbourne.METHODS:
We conducted a prospective cohort study at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), including all children and adolescents (aged 0-18 years) who presented and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 over a 6-month period, between 21 March 2020, up to the 21 September 2020. Detailed epidemiological and clinical data were recorded.RESULTS:
A total of 19 708 tests for SARS-CoV-2 were performed in 14 419 patients. One hundred and eighty patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (1.2%). 110 (61%) were symptomatic, 60 (33%) were asymptomatic and 10 (6%) were pre-symptomatic. Close contacts of a positive case were associated with a higher risk of a testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (120/2027 (6%) vs. 60/14589 (0.4%), RD 5.5 (95% CI 4.5 to 6.5), P < 0.001). Eighteen (10%) SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were admitted to hospital with one patient requiring intensive care. All patients recovered fully with no deaths.CONCLUSION:
In Victorian children presenting to a tertiary hospital, SARS-CoV-2 infection caused predominantly mild or asymptomatic infection, with most children not requiring hospitalisation.Keywords
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
Type of study:
Cohort study
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Infant
/
Infant, Newborn
Country/Region as subject:
Oceania
Language:
English
Journal:
J Paediatr Child Health
Journal subject:
Pediatrics
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Jpc.15786
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