ABSTRACT
In 2022, a surge in cases of pediatric human parechovirus (HPeV) central nervous system infections in young infants was seen at our institution. Despite the dramatic increase in the number of cases seen that year, the clinical features of the illness were similar to prior years. The recent pediatric HPeV surge highlights the need to evaluate treatment options and standardize follow-up to better understand the long-term prognosis of infants with HPeV infection.
Subject(s)
Central Nervous System Infections , Parechovirus , Picornaviridae Infections , Infant , Humans , Child , Picornaviridae Infections/diagnosis , Picornaviridae Infections/epidemiology , Prognosis , Central Nervous System Infections/diagnosis , Central Nervous System Infections/epidemiologyABSTRACT
ABSTRACT: Data regarding COVID-19 in the adult population and hospitalized children is rapidly evolving, but little is known about children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 who do not require hospitalization.In an observational, retrospective study we analyzed risk factors, demographics and clinical course of non-hospitalized patients ≤ 21âyears of age with COVID-19 infection.Of the 1,796 patients evaluated, 170 were infected, and 40 participated in a telephone survey. Children older >10âyears of age (OR: 2.19), Hispanic ethnicity (OR: 3) and residing in counties with higher rates of poverty (OR: 1.5) were associated with higher risk of infection, while older girls were more likely to experience prolonged duration of symptoms (median: 32âdays). Consistent with prior reports, fever and cough were present in most of our patients. Shortness of breath, diarrhea, anosmia, and ageusia were more common in our outpatient population than previously reported.Larger studies addressing the clinical and psychosocial impact of CoVID-19 infection in children living in high-risk environments are warranted.