Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Pediatric Patients Diagnosed with Covid-19 in a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Retrospective Cohort Study

ABSTRACT

Background: Jalgaon district was one of worst hit hotspot in Covid- 19 outbreak in 2021. Pediatric patients were also affected and some of them were even hospitalized for the same. The present retrospective study was undertaken in pursuit of throwing light on clinical characteristics, laboratory findings and clinical outcomes in pediatric patients diagnosed with Covid- 19 infection. Material(s) and Method(s) All children up to 12 years of age admitted to this tertiary care hospital (DCH) between period of March 19, 2021 and August 7, 2021 enrolled for the study. Their medical records were reviewed retrospectively. SARS-CoV-2 positive children were confirmed using reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) or rapid antigen test. Result(s) Of the 56 patients who were diagnosed as Covid 19 positive, 32 (57%) patients were males. On age analysis, majority of the patients belonged to the age group 1 month to 5 years are 30 (54%). Amongst clinical features, fever was most commonly encountered symptom. Twenty-one (37%) patients in the present study were classified as category D of disease severity. Abnormal chest X-ray was found in 41 (73%) patients. Twenty-four (43%) patients had oxygen saturation (SpO2) < 94% at room temperature, out of which 6 (25%) of the patients required only oxygen, 14 (58%) of the patients required non-invasive ventilation in the form of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) with oxygen and 4 (17%) patients required invasive ventilation. Abnormal high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) chest was found only in 1 patient. Total leucocyte count was elevated in 13 (23%) patients. C-reactive protein, serum ferritin, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), D-dimer was abnormally elevated in 14 (32%) patients, 16 (38%) out of 42 tested and serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN)/ creatinine ratio was elevated in 14 (36%), 38 (97%) and 26 (60%) patients, respectively. Forty-eight (86%) patients had recovered from the disease and discharged, and 4 (7%) patients succumbed to the disease. Conclusion(s) The Covid- 19 epidemic has wreaked havoc on the world's health. The severity of sickness in babies and children with Covid- 19 was significantly less than that reported in adults. Copyright © 2022 International Journal of Academic Medicine and Pharmacy. All rights reserved.