tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
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[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Ewa Talarek[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Jolanta Popielska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Karolina Nowicka[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Agnieszka O?dakowska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Konrad Zawadka[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Barbara Kowalik-Miko?ajewska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Anna Tomasik[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Anna Dobrzeniecka[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marta Lipi?ska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Beata Krynicka-Czech[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Urszula Coupland[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Aleksandra Sta?ska-Perka[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ma?gorzata Ludek[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Magdalena Marczy?ska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
Affiliations
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.
. 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[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Ewa Talarek[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Jolanta Popielska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Karolina Nowicka[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Agnieszka O?dakowska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Konrad Zawadka[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Barbara Kowalik-Miko?ajewska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Anna Tomasik[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Anna Dobrzeniecka[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Marta Lipi?ska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP], Beata Krynicka-Czech[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Urszula Coupland[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Aleksandra Sta?ska-Perka[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Ma?gorzata Ludek[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Magdalena Marczy?ska[SUP] 3 4 [/SUP]
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.