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Evaluation of pediatric patients with COVID-19 in a Turkish university hospital
O O Gundeslioglu1, D Alabaz2, S Kose1
1Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Cukurova University, School of Medicine, Adana, Turkey.
Insights
COVID-19 is generally mild in children, but can be severe for those with underlying diseases. This study analyzed 322 pediatric COVID-19 cases, finding a higher mortality rate in children with underlying conditions.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Viral Respiratory Illnesses
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 typically presents milder in pediatric populations compared to adults.
- However, severe and fatal outcomes are observed in children with pre-existing underlying diseases (UD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological features of pediatric COVID-19 patients.
- To analyze treatment strategies and patient prognosis.
- To identify risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 in children.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 322 pediatric patients (0-18 years) diagnosed with COVID-19.
- Confirmed cases required SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity.
- Disease severity categorized as asymptomatic, mild, moderate, or severe based on clinical, lab, and imaging findings.
Main Results:
- The study included 322 patients, with a median age of 12.08 years.
- 25.1% were asymptomatic, 67.7% mild, 4.3% moderate, and 2.7% severe.
- Hospitalization occurred in 35.7%, ICU admission in 6%, and mortality in 0.93%. Patients with UD had a 3.3% mortality rate.
Conclusions:
- Elevated procalcitonin, D-dimer, troponin, and thrombocytopenia indicated a more severe disease course.
- COVID-19, while often mild in children, poses significant risks for those with underlying health conditions.
Background:
Although COVID-19 has a milder course in pediatric patients than in adults, it can have a severe and fatal course in children with an underlying disease (UD).
Aims:
In this study, we aimed to evaluate the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological characteristics, treatment methods, and prognosis of pediatric patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
Patients And Methods:
The files of patients aged 0-18 years diagnosed with COVID-19 were retrospectively evaluated. Clinically and radiologically suspicious cases were accepted as confirmed cases if SARS-CoV-2 PCR positivity was found in nasopharyngeal swab samples. The severity of the disease was defined as asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and severe according to clinical, laboratory, and radiological features.
Results:
A total of 322 pediatric patients, 51.2% male and 48.8% female, were included in the study. The median age of the patients was 12.08 years (1 month-18 years). Of the 322 patients, 81 (25.1%) were asymptomatic. Disease severity was as follows: 218 were (67.7%) mild, 14 were (4.3%) moderate, and 9 (2.7%) were severe. 35.7% of the patients were hospitalized. Six percent were admitted to the intensive care unit, and three (0.93%) patients died. The mortality rate in patients with the UD was 3.3%.
Conclusion:
In our study, we determined that the disease had a more severe course in patients with initial procalcitonin, D-dimer, troponin increase, and thrombocytopenia. Although COVID-19 has a mild course in children, this is unfortunately not true for children with an UD.
