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Sci Rep
. 2021 Mar 11;11(1):5760.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-021-85340-0.
Comparison of clinical severity and epidemiological spectrum between coronavirus disease 2019 and influenza in children
Maria Pokorska-?piewak 1 2 , Ewa Talarek 3 4 , Jolanta Popielska 3 4 , Karolina Nowicka 3 4 , Agnieszka O?dakowska 3 4 , Konrad Zawadka 3 4 , Barbara Kowalik-Miko?ajewska 3 4 , Anna Tomasik 3 4 , Anna Dobrzeniecka 4 , Marta Lipi?ska 3 4 , Beata Krynicka-Czech 4 , Urszula Coupland 4 , Aleksandra Sta?ska-Perka 4 , Ma?gorzata Ludek 5 , Magdalena Marczy?ska 3 4
Affiliations
- PMID: 33707568
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85340-0
Abstract
Data on the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children are limited, and studies from Europe are scarce. We analyzed the clinical severity and epidemiologic aspects of COVID-19 in consecutive children aged 0-18 years, referred with a suspicion of COVID-19 between February 1, and April 15, 2020. RT-PCR on a nasopharyngeal swab was used to confirm COVID-19. 319 children met the criteria of a suspected case. COVID-19 was diagnosed in 15/319 (4.7%) patients (8 male; mean age 10.5 years). All of them had household contact with an infected relative. Five (33.3%) patients were asymptomatic. In 9/15 (60.0%) children, the course of the disease was mild, and in 1/15 (6.7%), it was moderate, with the following symptoms: fever (46.7%), cough (40%), diarrhea (20%), vomiting (13.3%), rhinitis (6.7%), and shortness of breath (6.7%). In the COVID-19-negative patients, other infections were confirmed, including influenza in 32/319 (10%). The clinical course of COVID-19 and influenza differed significantly based on the clinical presentation. In conclusion, the clinical course of COVID-19 in children is usually mild or asymptomatic. In children suspected of having COVID-19, other infections should not be overlooked. The main risk factor for COVID-19 in children is household contact with an infected relative.