COVID-19 increased in Italian children in the autumn and winter 2021-2022 period when Omicron was the dominant variant.
Acta Paediatr
; 2022 Oct 19.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2229173
ABSTRACT
AIM:
We examined the prevalence of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) in children during the autumn and winter season from 1 September 2021 to 30 January 2022 and compared it with the same period in 2020-2021.METHODS:
This study was carried out int the paediatric emergency department (PED) of a tertiary Italian hospital. We compared the clinical and demographical features of all children who presented during the two study periods and tested positive for SARS-CoV-2.RESULTS:
During the 2021-2022 autumn and winter season 5813 children presented to the PED, 19.0% were tested for SARS-CoV-2 and 133 (12.0%) of those tested positive. In 2020-2021, 2914 presented to the PED, 12.3% were tested, and 30 (8.3%) of those tested positive. There were no statistically significant differences in clinical severity during the two study periods, despite a higher percentage of neurological symptoms in 2020-2021. Of the SARS-CoV-2-positive cases, 29/133 (21.8%) were hospitalised during the 2021-2022 season and 10/30 (33.3%) during the previous one. Only 3/163 children required intensive care.CONCLUSION:
The greater spread of SARS-CoV-2 was probably due to the greater transmissibility of the Omicron variant, but the symptoms were mild and only 3 children required intensive care.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Variants
Language:
English
Year:
2022
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
Apa.16576
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