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COVID-19 in hospitalized Ethiopian children: characteristics and outcome profile
Tigist Workneh Leulseged1, Ishmael Shemsedin Hassen1, Endalkachew Hailu Maru1
1Millennium COVID-19 Care Center, St. Paul's Hospital Millennium Medical College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Insights
This study assessed children with COVID-19 in Ethiopia, finding most had mild or no symptoms. Pediatric COVID-19 cases in Ethiopia showed a milder presentation and better outcomes compared to global reports.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Pediatrics
- Epidemiology
Background:
- The coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19) has a significant global health impact, yet data on pediatric cases remain limited.
- Understanding the specific characteristics and outcomes of COVID-19 in children is crucial for effective healthcare management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
- To fill the evidence gap regarding the disease's impact on children in Ethiopia.
Main Methods:
- A prospective cohort study was conducted involving 90 children admitted to the Millennium COVID-19 Care Center in Ethiopia.
- Data collection occurred between June 23rd and September 17th, 2020.
- Statistical analysis included descriptive statistics and chi-square/Fischer's exact tests to compare disease severity.
Main Results:
- The median age of participants was 15 years, with 57 females. Close contact was the primary transmission route (41/90).
- Most children were asymptomatic (59/90), with cough being the most frequent symptom (20/90).
- Disease severity was predominantly mild (14/90) or moderate (17/90), with no significant differences observed based on age or sex.
Conclusions:
- Pediatric COVID-19 cases in this Ethiopian cohort exhibited a milder disease presentation.
- Outcomes for children with COVID-19 in this study were favorable, contrasting with reports from other countries and adult patterns.
Introduction:
considering the number of people affected and the burden to the health care system due to the coronavirus pandemic, there is still a gap in understanding the disease better leaving a space for new evidence to be filled by researchers. This scarcity of evidence is observed especially among children with the virus. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the characteristics and outcome profile of children with COVID-19 admitted to Millennium COVID-19 Care Center in Ethiopia.
Methods:
a prospective cohort study was conducted among 90 children with COVID-19 who were admitted from June 23rd to September 17th, 2020. Data were summarized using frequency tables, mean ± standard deviation or median with inter quartile range values. A chi-square test/Fischer´s exact test was used to compare disease severity between groups.
Results:
the median age of the participants was 15 years and 57 were females. The most common reported route of disease transmission was through close contact with a diagnosed person (41/90). Only three had a history of pre-existing comorbid illness. One-third (31/90) had one or more symptoms at diagnosis, the most common being cough (20/90). Among the 90 patients, 59 were asymptomatic, 14 had mild disease and the rest 17 had moderate disease. Based on the chi-square/Fischer´s exact test result, no statistically significant difference was observed between the age groups and sex.
Conclusion:
pediatric patients seemed to have a milder disease presentation and a favorable outcome compared to other countries report and also the adult pattern observed in our country.
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