A retrospective study of the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 infection in 26 children

ABSTRACT

BackgroundThe outbreak of novel coronavirus pneumonia in China began in December 2019. Studies on novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) were less based on pediatric patients. This study aimed to reveal the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in children. MethodThis study retrospectively analyzed the clinical symptoms, laboratory results, chest CT, and treatment of children with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19(ie, with samples that were positive for 2019 novel coronavirus[2019-nCoV]) who were admitted to Shenzhen Center of National Infectious Disease Clinical Medical Research from January 16 to February 8, 2020. ResultNine patients had no obvious clinical symptom. 11 patients developed fever. Other symptoms, including cough(in eleven of seventeen patients), rhinorrhea(in two), diarrhea(in two), vomiting(in two), were also observed. A small minority of patients had lymphocytopenia. Alanine transaminase or transaminase increased in three cases. According to chest CT scan, 11 patients showed unilateral pneumonia, 8 patients had no pulmonary infiltration. No serious complications such as acute respiratory syndrome and acute lung injury occurred in all patients. ConclusionThe clinical characteristics of 2019-nCoV infection in children were different from adult. The overall condition of children were mild and have a good prognosis. MainpointCOVID-19 is a kind of new infectious disease.The clinical characteristics of 2019-nCoV infection in children may different from adult. Myocardium likely less affected by 2019-nCoV in children.