Clinical and demographic characteristics of children hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection

  • Patricia Barrios Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Pediátrica C
  • Lorena Pardo Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Pediátrica C, Departamento de Bacteriología y Virología
  • Fernanda Martínez Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Pediátrica C
  • Karina Malan Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Pediátrica C
  • Valeria Cardozo Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Clínica Pediátrica C
  • Teresa Toledo Administración de los Servicios de Salud del Estado, Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell
  • Héctor Telechea Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos
  • Álvaro Galiana Administración de los Servicios de Salud del Estado, Centro Hospitalario Pereira Rossell
  • Gustavo Giachetto Universidad de la República, Facultad de Medicina, 1Clínica Pediátrica C
DOI: https://doi.org/10.29193/RMU.39.3.2
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS-COV-2, RESPIRATORY INSUFFICIENCY, RESPIRATORY DISEASES, PEDIATRIC MULTISYSTEM INFLAMMATORY DISEASE

Abstract

Introduction: In March 2020, the first cases of SARS CoV-2 infection were registered in Uruguay and a health emergency was decreed. 
Objective: To describe the clinical and demographic characteristics of children under 15 years of age hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 13, 2020, to September 30, 2021, at Pereira Rossell Pediatric Hospital, a public reference center in Uruguay.
Method: Descriptive, retrospective study describing age, clinical manifestations, comorbidities, severity and treatment. Results: A total of 207 children were hospitalized, with a frequency of 1.6%. The median (interquartile range) age was 1.5 years (3 months - 8 years); <1 year accounted for 44%, and 54% were male.  Comorbidities were present in 59 children. 71% of them were symptomatic, and among the symptomatic cases, 48% presented mild symptoms. Clinical manifestations were respiratory in 96 (65%) cases and non-respiratory in 51 (fever without a focus 15, gastrointestinal 19, viral exanthem 3, pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome 10, and atypical 3).  Thirty patients were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 3 required invasive ventilation.  These patients had comorbidities, more days of fever, and required oxygen therapy compared to those who did not need ICU.  One 2-year-old patient with comorbidities died.
Conclusion: The hospitalization frequency was 1.6%. Most symptomatic children had mild forms of the disease. Among the symptomatic cases, respiratory manifestations were predominant. The findings from this series contribute to the understanding of the behavior of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children.

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Published
2023-08-21
How to Cite
1.
Barrios P, Pardo L, Martínez F, Malan K, Cardozo V, Toledo T, Telechea H, Galiana Álvaro, Giachetto G. Clinical and demographic characteristics of children hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Rev. Méd. Urug. [Internet]. 2023Aug.21 [cited 2024May12];39(3):e202. Available from: http://www2.rmu.org.uy/ojsrmu311/index.php/rmu/article/view/1036
Issue
Vol 39 No 3 (2023): Revista Médica del Uruguay
Section
Original Articles
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