COVID-19 in children ranging from asymptomatic to a multi-system inflammatory disease

• Published in: Saudi medical journal 2021-03, Vol.42 (3), p.299-305
• Main Authors: Shahin Walaa, Rabie Walaa, Alyossof Osama, Alasiri Mohammed, Alfaki Mohamed, Elamin, Mahmoud, Hijazi Muwaffak, Faraidi, Huda El, Alahmari Hassan
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Asymptomatic; Bacterial infections; Blood; Coronaviruses; COVID-19; Cytokine storm; Disease transmission; Fever; Mortality; Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children; Neutrophils; Pandemics; Pediatrics; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Variables; Viruses; Vitamin D
• ISSN: 0379-5284; 1658-3175
• DOI: 10.15537/smj.2021.42.3.20200625

Objectives:To identify clinical and laboratory characteristics of the Saudi children with confirmed COVID-19.Methods:Eighty-eight children (0-14 years) with COVID-19 who were admitted to Prince Sultan Military Medical City (PSMMC), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia from April to June 2020 were recruited.Results:Mean age was 5.74 ± 4.7 years with 41 (49.4%) males and 42 (50.6%) females. The length of hospital stay (LOS) ranged from 1 to 17 days. The main source of infection was infected family members. Mean values of C-reactive protein (CRP), serum ferritin, and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) were noticeably above normal. Degree of severity and length of stay was significantly correlated with lymphopenia (r= -0.36; p=0.001), whereas it was positively correlated with absolute neutrophil count and with high inflammatory markers, such as CRP, LDH, and others.Conclusions:Identifying the clinical and laboratory characteristics of the Saudi children with confirmed COVID-19 will improve understanding of this disease’s presentation and will help put rapid and proper management strategies into place to face this pandemic. A high index of suspicion is needed for cases presenting with multi-system inflammatory disease, which represented 5.7% of the included study population.