Abdominal pain as a reason for pediatric visiting during the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic in Guayaquil, Ecuador

ABSTRACT

Objective: the objective of this study was to describe the cases of paediatric patients with abdominal pain and confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. In Latin American countries the pandemic has had a major impact from the high mortality rate. Ecuador is the fifth most affected country with a rate of 223 deaths per million inhabitants, ranking at the top of the fatality. In the paediatric population, the behavior of COVID-19 remains nonspecific. Materials and methods: an observational, descriptive and retrospective study was conducted, in which patients under the age of 18 were included except for newborns, admitted by abdominal pain and who obtained a confirmed diagnosis COVID-19. Results: 30 patients with confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 and abdominal pain were included. The average age was 8.46 years at the predomin of the male sex (70%). In the pain assessment 19 (63%) had a moderate-severe EVA and 11 (37%) Mild EVA. 7 (23.33%) required surgery, 21 (70%) needed a critical care unit, and 1 (3.33%) Died. Conclusions: abdominal pain is a diagnostic challenge in this time of pandemic and should be considered within the possible clinical manifestations of COVID-19 in the paediatric population.