Inpatient COVID-19 in children: A Colombian children hospital experience
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Abstract
Introduction: COVID-19 in pediatric age is described with less severity, although the literature in this age group is limited, mainly in the local context. The present study describes the sociodemographic, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of hospitalized patients under 18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19. Methods: Observational, descriptive, retrospective cohort-type study in pediatric patients diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized at the Colsubsidio Children's Clinic in Bogotá, Colombia, between March 2020 and April 2021. Results: 230 patients were included, with two epidemiological peaks: August 2 020 and April 2 021; There was a predominance of the male gender (57.4 %) and the age under two years. The main symptoms were cough (60 %), nasal congestion (33.9 %), and diarrhea (22.2 %). The mean stay was 7.8 days (SD: 13.9 days), and 25.2 % required management in the PICU. 60 % of the cases presented lymphopenia and thrombocytopenia. The main finding on the chest radiograph was peribronchial thickening. 25.2 % (n = 58) were treated with steroids and 5.2 % (n = 12) with immunoglobulin in the context of Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome related to COVID19 (MIS-C). 38.3 % had antibiotic management for suspected bacterial coinfection. Mortality was 2.2 %. Conclusion: COVID-19 in children has differences compared to adults; our study showed greater severity at a lower age range, a predominance of the male gender, and a lower mortality rate than that of hospitalized adults. Local context studies are required.
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