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Critically ill infants with SARS-COV-2 delta variant infection

Aida Borgi1, Assaad Louati1, Amal Miraoui2

  • 1PICU of Children's Hospital Béchir Hamza of Tunis - Faculty of Medicine of Tunis-Tunis EL-Manar University, Tunisia.

Pediatrics and Neonatology
|January 11, 2023
PubMed

Insights

The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant caused severe respiratory illness in infants, with many requiring mechanical ventilation and some succumbing to the infection. This highlights the critical impact of the Delta variant on vulnerable pediatric populations.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Intensive Care
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Virology

Background:

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) typically causes mild to moderate symptoms in children.
  • Limited clinical data exists on the specific symptoms and outcomes of the Delta variant in pediatric patients, particularly infants.

Approach:

  • A retrospective study was conducted between June 23, 2021, and August 16, 2021, during the Delta variant's predominance.
  • Infants under 15 years old admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) with severe or critical SARS-CoV-2 infection (confirmed by RT-PCR) were included.
  • Medical records were reviewed to gather clinical characteristics and outcomes.

Key Points:

  • Twenty infants, with a median age of 47 days and no underlying conditions, were included.
  • Respiratory involvement, including pediatric acute respiratory distress (PARDS), was the primary clinical feature.
  • Eleven patients developed PARDS, with 7 requiring mechanical ventilation, and 4 patients died.

Conclusions:

  • The SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant can cause life-threatening illness in very young infants, even those without comorbidities.
  • This case series underscores the severe respiratory and hemodynamic impact of the Delta variant in a vulnerable pediatric population.
  • Findings emphasize the need for vigilant monitoring and management strategies for infants during periods of high SARS-CoV-2 variant circulation.
Abstract

Keywords:
SARS-CoV-2acute respiratory distress syndromedelta variantintensive caremechanical ventilation

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