Before saying farewell to hydroxychloroquine usage in practice: evaluation of our safety data on hydroxychloroquine treatment in children with COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the adverse effects of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in children with COVID-19. Material and Methods: This study was conducted between March- August 2020 at a referral tertiary hospital for pediatric infectious diseases in the Aegean Region of Turkey. All hospitalized children with COVID-19 who were received HCQ include in this study. An electrocardiogram (ECG) was performed prior to the initiation of HCQ and at certain times (first and 24th hours of HCQ administration and two hours after the final dose of HCQ) during treatment. Adverse effects associated with HCQ were evaluated during the hospitalization and also the first and second months after discharge.