Distinct Clinical and Laboratory Features of COVID-19 in Children During the Pre-Delta, Delta and Omicron Wave.
Pediatr Infect Dis J
; 42(5): 423-428, 2023 05 01.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2262060
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern exhibit distinct features in terms of transmissibility and virulence. This study compared the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in children during pre-Delta, Delta and Omicron waves.METHODS:
Medical records of 1163 children <19 years of age with COVID-19 admitted to a designated hospital in Seoul, South Korea, were analyzed. Clinical and laboratory findings during the pre-Delta (March 1, 2020, to June 30, 2021; 330 children), Delta (July 1, 2021, to December 31, 2021; 527 children) and Omicron (January 1, 2022, to May 10, 2022; 306 children) waves were compared.RESULTS:
Children during the Delta wave were older and had a higher proportion of fever ≥5 days and pneumonia than children during the pre-Delta and Omicron waves. The Omicron wave was characterized by younger age and a higher proportion of fever ≥39.0 °C, febrile seizure and croup. More children <2 years of age and adolescents aged 10 to <19 years experienced neutropenia and lymphopenia, respectively, during the Delta wave. Children aged 2 to <10 years had a higher incidence of leukopenia and lymphopenia during the Omicron wave.CONCLUSIONS:
Distinct features of COVID-19 were observed in children during the Delta and Omicron surges. Continuous scrutiny of the manifestations of variants of concern is needed for appropriate public health response and management.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
COVID-19
/
Lymphopenia
/
Neutropenia
Type of study:
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Topics:
Variants
Limits:
Adolescent
/
Adult
/
Child
/
Child, preschool
/
Humans
/
Young adult
Language:
English
Journal:
Pediatr Infect Dis J
Journal subject:
Communicable Diseases
/
Pediatrics
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
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