Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 in Indian Children in the Initial Phase of the Pandemic
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Epidemiological and Clinical Characteristics of COVID-19 in Indian Children in the Initial Phase of the Pandemic BHAKTI SARANGI, VENKAT SANDEEP REDDY, JITENDRA S OSWAL, NANDINI MALSHE, AJINKYA PATIL, MANOJIT CHAKRABORTY AND SANJAY LALWANI From Department of Pediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Pune, Maharashtra, India. Correspondence to: Jitendra S Oswal, Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College and Hospital, Pune 411043, Maharashtra, India. [email protected] Received: June 08, 2020; Initial review: June 19, 2020; Accepted: July 28, 2020.
Objective: To assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of pediatric inpatients with COVID-19, early in the pandemic. Methods: Clinical and laboratory profile and outcomes were studied for children (aged 1 month - 18 years) presenting between 1 April, 2020 and 20 May, 2020 with positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR. Results: 50 children (56% male) with median (IQR) age of 6 (2-12) years were included. Majority (56%) were from families belonging to Kuppuswamy upper lower socioeconomic class. 45 (90%) had positive household contact, and 33 (66%) had overcrowding at home. 29 (58%) children were asymptomatic while 20 (40%) had mild symptoms. Fever, cough, and sore throat were the most common symptoms. High C-reactive protein levels were seen in 15 (30%) children. There was no mortality. Conclusion: The disease burden appears high in lower socio-economic group with majority having a positive household contact. Milder disease pattern in the pediatric age group is reiterated. Keywords: Management, RT-PCR, SARS-CoV-2, Symptoms, Outcome. Published online: July 28, 2020; PII: S097475591600218
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years of age. Detailed information including demographic data, travel and contact history, living conditions and overcrowding, symptoms, and presence of co-morbid conditions were taken. The children were examined and categorized as per degree of severity based on standard criteria [2].
oronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has been in circulation for more than six months now [1]. Though there have been a growing number of studies focused on COVID-19, limited data is available on epidemiological features, clinical manifestations, and transmission patterns in children with COVID-19, more so from India. Early observations in a pandemic are pivotal in improving the understanding of the physiological patterns and varied clinical profiles, so as to improve early recognition and appropriate management. We, therefore, describe the clinical and epidemiological features of pediatric patients seen at a single tertiary-care institution.
Baseline laboratory parameters (complete hemogram and C-reactive protein) were evaluated and repeated as required. Chest radiograph was done in all symptomatic children. On chest X-ray each lung was divided into three zones. Each zone was given a score of 1 if there was any opacity and 0 if there were none. Total sc
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