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Efficacy and Safety of Remdesivir in Hospitalized Pediatric COVID-19: A Retrospective Case-Controlled Study
Ahmed Khalil1, Asmaa Mohamed1, Manasik Hassan2
1Section of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacy, Pharmacy Department, Hamad General Hospital, Doha, Qatar.
Insights
Remdesivir (RDV) is a safe antiviral for pediatric COVID-19. This study found RDV well-tolerated in children with moderate to severe illness, showing no significant impact on hospital stay or oxygen needs compared to controls.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases
- Antiviral Therapeutics
- Critical Care Medicine
Background:
- While most pediatric COVID-19 cases are mild, some progress to severe illness.
- Understanding effective antiviral treatments for severe pediatric COVID-19 is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of Remdesivir (RDV) in children with moderate to severe COVID-19.
- To inform clinical decision-making for pediatric antiviral therapy.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of 60 pediatric patients (38 RDV, 22 control) from January 2021 to January 2022.
- Data collected from electronic hospital records.
Main Results:
- The most common symptoms were Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (93.3%).
- Adverse effects of RDV included hypoalbuminemia (50.0%) and anemia (47.4%).
- RDV treatment was well-tolerated, with no significant differences in hospital stay or oxygen treatment compared to the control group (P > 0.18).
Conclusions:
- Remdesivir (RDV) appears to be a safe therapeutic option for pediatric COVID-19.
- Further research may solidify RDV's role in treating severe pediatric coronavirus disease.
Introduction:
While most children experience mild coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infections, a minority of cases progress to severe or critical illness. This study aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of Remdesivir (RDV) therapy in children with moderate to severe COVID-19, enhancing clinical decision-making and expanding our understanding of antiviral treatments for pediatric patients.
Methods:
The study included 60 patients, 38 receiving RDV treatment and 22 serving as the control group. Data was collected retrospectively from January 2021 to January 2022 through electronic hospital records.
Results:
Regarding the main clinical symptoms reported, most patients experienced Upper Respiratory Tract Infections (93.3%), indicating respiratory involvement. Additional symptoms included Central Nervous System (11.7%) and Gastrointestinal (10.0%). Among the 38 cases in the RDV group included in the study, the adverse effects associated with using RDV: Hypoalbuminemia in 19 cases (50.0%) and anemia in 18 cases (47.4%), making them the most common adverse effects. Only one case in the RDV group experienced non-RDV-related death with a different clinical diagnosis. The results showed that RDV treatment was well-tolerated in pediatric patients, with no significant differences in hospital stay and oxygen treatment compared to the control group with P values (0.2, 0.18), respectively.
Conclusion:
The outcomes indicate that Remdesivir may represent a safe and therapeutic choice for children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).
