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Atypical case of COVID-19 in a critically unwell 5-week old infant

Abirami Namasivayam1, Than Soe2, Jason Palman2

  • 1Paediatrics, Princess Alexandra Hospital NHS Trust, Harlow, UK a.namasivayam@nhs.net.

BMJ Case Reports
|September 15, 2020
PubMed

Insights

Severe COVID-19 infection in infants is an evolving concern. This case highlights atypical presentations and challenges in pediatric airway management for SARS-CoV-2.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatrics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Critical Care Medicine

Background:

  • Early reports suggested children were less affected by SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).
  • Emerging evidence indicates a potential for systemic inflammatory responses in pediatric cases.
  • Understanding COVID-19's impact on the pediatric population is crucial and ongoing.

Observation:

  • A 5-week-old male infant presented with severe COVID-19 infection.
  • This infant required mechanical ventilation and intensive care, representing the youngest reported case in the UK.
  • The infection was acquired through horizontal transmission.

Findings:

  • The infant's presentation was atypical for severe COVID-19 in children.
  • This case underscores the variability in SARS-CoV-2 presentation among infants.
  • Identifying 'at risk' infant populations for COVID-19 is a developing area.

Implications:

  • This case offers critical learning points for managing severe COVID-19 in neonates and infants.
  • New challenges in pediatric airway management for SARS-CoV-2-infected infants are identified.
  • Further research is needed to understand and manage COVID-19's effects on vulnerable infants.

Keywords:
paediatricsresuscitation

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