Characteristics and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in children: a hospital-based surveillance study in Latin America's hardest-hit city.
IJID Reg
; 7: 52-62, 2023 Jun.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2264480
ABSTRACT
Background:
In 2020, Brazil became the epicentre of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Latin America, resulting in an unparalleled health catastrophe. Nevertheless, comprehensive clinical reports in Brazilian children are not available.Methods:
This retrospective, hospital-based, active surveillance study was performed to identify paediatric patients with COVID-19 who presented at a private academic medical centre in a large urban area between March 2020 and March 2021. Clinical and demographic information was analysed for those requiring hospitalization, those with severe illness and those with clinical syndromes.Results:
In total, 964 symptomatic cases were evaluated; of these, 17.7% required hospitalization, and 27.5% of hospitalized cases were classified as severe/critical. Acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia were the most common causes of hospitalization among the severe cases. Twenty-seven hospitalized children fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for multi-system inflammatory syndrome (median age 29 months; 85.2% cases were non-severe). A significant co-existing condition was present in 29% of hospitalized children. The risk of hospitalization was higher in children with at least one comorbidity, children aged <2 years and obese children. Increased risk of severe disease was described among those with leukopenia, leukocytosis or any significant comorbidity. No deaths occurred among the study population.Conclusion:
Although most children with COVID-19 experienced mild disease, and no deaths occurred among the study population, a significant proportion of cases required hospitalization and developed severe illness. Obesity, young age, underlying comorbidity, leukopenia and leukocytosis were risk factors for hospitalization or severe disease.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
Language:
English
Journal:
IJID Reg
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
J.ijregi.2022.12.003
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