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Borgi A, Meftah K, Trabelsi I, Kyaw MH, Zaghden H, Bouafsoun A, Mezghani F, Missaoui N, Abdel Ali A, Essaddam L, Khemiri H, Haddad-Boubaker S, Boussetta K, Khemiri M, Ben Becher S, Boukthir S, Triki H, Menif K, Smaoui H. Retrospective Analysis of Clinical Characteristics and Disease Outcomes in Children and Adolescents Hospitalized Due to COVID-19 Infection in Tunisia. Viruses 2024; 16:779. [PMID: 38793660 PMCID: PMC11125722 DOI: 10.3390/v16050779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2024] [Revised: 05/03/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Due to low susceptibility of coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) in children, limited studies are available regarding COVID-19 in the pediatric population in Tunisia. The current study evaluated the incidence, clinical characteristics, and outcomes of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection among children hospitalized at Béchir Hamza Children's Hospital. A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using the hospital database between March 2020 and February 2022 with children aged ≤15 years with SARS-CoV-2 infection (confirmed by RT-PCR). A total of 327 COVID-19 hospitalized patients with a mean age of 3.3 years were included; the majority were male. Neurological disease (20%) was the most common comorbidity, while fever (95.3%) followed by cough (43.7%) and dyspnea (39.6%) were the most frequent symptoms reported. Severe disease with oxygen requirement occurred in 30% of the patients; 13% were admitted in the Intensive Care Unit. The overall incidence rate of COVID-19 hospitalization (in Tunis governorates) was 77.02 per 100,000 while the inpatient case fatality rate was 5% in the study population. The most prevalent circulating variant during our study period was Delta (48.8%), followed by Omicron (26%). More than 45% of the study population were <6 months and one-fourth (n = 25, 26.5%) had at least one comorbidity. Thus, the study findings highlight the high disease burden of COVID-19 in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Borgi
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (A.B.); (K.M.)
| | - Khaoula Meftah
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (K.M.)
| | - Ines Trabelsi
- Pediatric Department B, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (I.T.)
| | | | | | - Aida Bouafsoun
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (K.M.)
| | - Fatma Mezghani
- Pediatric Department A, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Nada Missaoui
- Pediatric Department C, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Alya Abdel Ali
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Leila Essaddam
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Haifa Khemiri
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Sondes Haddad-Boubaker
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Khedija Boussetta
- Pediatric Department B, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (I.T.)
| | - Monia Khemiri
- Pediatric Department A, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Saida Ben Becher
- Department of Pediatrics and Emergency, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Samir Boukthir
- Pediatric Department C, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia
| | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, Tunis 1002, Tunisia
| | - Khaled Menif
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (A.B.); (K.M.)
| | - Hanen Smaoui
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Children’s Hospital of Tunis, Tunis 1007, Tunisia; (K.M.)
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2
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Stoicescu ER, Iacob R, Ilie AC, Iacob ER, Susa SR, Ghenciu LA, Constantinescu A, Cocolea DM, Ciornei-Hoffman A, Oancea C, Manolescu DL. Stratifying Disease Severity in Pediatric COVID-19: A Correlative Study of Serum Biomarkers and Lung Ultrasound-A Retrospective Observational Dual-Center Study. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:440. [PMID: 38396479 PMCID: PMC10888450 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14040440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2024] [Revised: 02/13/2024] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic, caused by SARS-CoV-2, has manifested distinct impacts on infants and children. This study delves into the intricate connection between lung ultrasound (LUS) findings and serum biomarkers in neonates and infants with COVID-19. Exploring factors contributing to the mild symptoms in this demographic, including immune responses and pre-existing immunity, the study spans 3 years and 9 months, involving 42 patients. Respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms predominate, and LUS emerges as a vital, non-irradiating tool for evaluating pulmonary abnormalities. Serum biomarkers like CRP, procalcitonin, and cytokines provide key insights into the pathophysiology. Correlations reveal nuanced links between LUS score and clinical parameters, unveiling associations with hospitalization duration (rho = 0.49), oxygen saturation (rho = -0.88), and inflammatory markers, like ferritin (rho = 0.62), LDH (rho = 0.73), and D-dimer (rho = 0.73) with significance level (p < 0.05). The absence of large consolidations in LUS suggests unique pulmonary characteristics. The novelty of these findings lies in the comprehensive integration of LUS with serum biomarkers to assess and monitor the severity of lung involvement in neonates and infants affected by SARS-CoV-2. This approach offers valuable insights into disease severity, biomarker levels, the duration of hospitalization, and oxygen saturation, providing a multifaceted understanding of COVID-19's impact on this vulnerable population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emil Robert Stoicescu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (E.R.S.); (D.L.M.)
- Research Center for Pharmaco-Toxicological Evaluations, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
- Faculty of Mechanics, Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, ‘Politehnica’ University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Roxana Iacob
- Faculty of Mechanics, Field of Applied Engineering Sciences, Specialization Statistical Methods and Techniques in Health and Clinical Research, ‘Politehnica’ University Timisoara, Mihai Viteazul Boulevard No. 1, 300222 Timisoara, Romania
- Department of Anatomy and Embriology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, 300041 Timișoara, Romania
- IOSUD/Ph.D. School, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.R.S.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Adrian Cosmin Ilie
- Department III Functional Sciences, Division of Public Health and Management, “Victor Babes” University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Emil Radu Iacob
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Eftimie Murgu Square 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Septimiu Radu Susa
- IOSUD/Ph.D. School, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.R.S.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Laura Andreea Ghenciu
- Department of Functional Sciences, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania;
| | - Amalia Constantinescu
- IOSUD/Ph.D. School, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.R.S.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Daiana Marina Cocolea
- IOSUD/Ph.D. School, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (S.R.S.); (A.C.); (D.M.C.)
| | - Andreea Ciornei-Hoffman
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Morphological Sciences, ‘Iuliu Hatieganu’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 400349 Cluj-Napoca, Romania;
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, County Clinical Emergency Hospital, 400006 Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Cristian Oancea
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), ‘Victor Babeș’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
- Department of Pulmonology, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timisoara, Romania
| | - Diana Luminita Manolescu
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, ‘Victor Babes’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy Timisoara, Eftimie Murgu Square No. 2, 300041 Timisoara, Romania; (E.R.S.); (D.L.M.)
- Center for Research and Innovation in Precision Medicine of Respiratory Diseases (CRIPMRD), ‘Victor Babeș’ University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 300041 Timișoara, Romania;
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3
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Miron VD, Raianu RO, Filimon C, Craiu M. Clinical Differences between SARS-CoV-2 and RSV Infections in Infants: Findings from a Case-Control Study. Viruses 2023; 16:63. [PMID: 38257763 PMCID: PMC10819890 DOI: 10.3390/v16010063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2023] [Revised: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/29/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Infants are a unique pediatric group due to their high hospitalization rates and unfavorable outcomes from acute infectious diseases. Understanding the clinical differences and aftereffects of SARS-CoV-2 in comparison to other prevalent viruses in this age group, like RSV, is crucial for effective management. We conducted a retrospective case-control study of infants hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in one year, in a tertiary pediatric hospital in Bucharest, Romania. A total of 188 infants were included in the analysis in a 1:1 ratio (94 with SARS-CoV-2 infection and 94 with RSV infection). Infants with COVID-19 were 10.2 times more likely to have fever (p < 0.001) and 2.4 times more likely to have diarrhea (p = 0.016). Conversely, infants with RSV were 2.5 times more likely to have a cough (p < 0.001), 3.0 times more likely to have nasal congestion (p < 0.001), and 14.7 times more likely to present with dyspnea (p < 0.001). Increased lymphocyte count was more common in infants with RSV (p = 0.008), while lymphopenia was more frequent in infants with SARS-CoV-2 (p = 0.011). The median length of hospital stay was one day longer in infants with RSV infection (5 days vs. 4 days). Overall, infants with RSV infection had a 27.3-fold increased risk of developing respiratory failure (p < 0.001), while infants with COVID-19 had a 5.8-fold increased risk of laryngitis (p = 0.003). Our findings suggest that infants with SARS-CoV-2 infection may present with polymorphic symptoms, mostly dominated by fever, whereas infants with RSV often present with respiratory symptoms. Laboratory differentiation between the two infections is challenging; therefore, the use of rapid antigen or molecular diagnostic tests is crucial for accurate diagnosis, epidemiologically appropriate measures, and effective management. Continued surveillance of both viruses in infants, and beyond, and the implementation of specific control measures are needed to mitigate their impact on this vulnerable pediatric group.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Raluca-Oana Raianu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Claudiu Filimon
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
| | - Mihai Craiu
- Carol Davila University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 050474 Bucharest, Romania
- National Institute for Mother and Child Health “Alessandrescu-Rusescu”, 020395 Bucharest, Romania
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4
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Balas WM, Śliwczyński A, Olszewski P, Gołębiak I, Sybilski AJ. Comparative Analysis of Symptomatology in Hospitalized Children with RSV, COVID-19, and Influenza Infections. Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e941229. [PMID: 37950434 PMCID: PMC10647936 DOI: 10.12659/msm.941229] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The clinical course of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), SARS-CoV-2, and influenza infections comprises many non-specific symptoms, which makes diagnosis difficult. The aim of this study was to retrospectively analyze the symptomatology of these infections in children and to search for correlations between them. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 121 children with a positive RSV (n=61), influenza (n=31), or SARS-CoV-2 (n=29) antigen test were enrolled in this retrospective analysis. Children were aged up to 71 months (median, 8 months). The collected data were collated by performing statistical analysis using the chi-square test and comparing the results using OR (odds ratio) and 95%CI (confidence interval). RESULTS There was a higher risk of fever in children with influenza than in those with RSV. Patients infected with RSV had a higher risk of nasal blockage than those with SARS-CoV-2. Dyspnea was more common in RSV infection than in influenza. Severe, sleep-awakening cough was more frequent in children with RSV than in those with COVID-19. Influenza was more prevalent in children aged >24 months than in those aged 7-24 months. RSV-infected children had a higher risk of numerous auscultatory changes compared to those with SARS-CoV-2. In the case of RSV infection, symptoms requiring hospitalization occurred later than in SARS-CoV-2 infection. CONCLUSIONS Children aged >24 months were at higher risk of contracting influenza. Numerous auscultatory changes, nasal blockage, and dyspnea were more common in children with RSV. There was a higher risk of dyspnea in children with RSV. Fever was more frequent in children with influenza. However, none of the symptoms clearly indicated the etiology of the infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weronika M. Balas
- Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology with Allergology Center, The National Institute of Medicine of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Andrzej Śliwczyński
- Health Public Department, The National Institute of Medicine of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | | | - Adam J. Sybilski
- Department of Paediatrics and Neonatology with Allergology Center, The National Institute of Medicine of the Ministry of the Interior and Administration, Warsaw, Poland
- Second Department of Paediatrics, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, Warsaw, Poland
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5
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Shishido Y, Nakamura H, Nakagawa T, Kanou S, Ito T, Kuwana S, Ota C. Incidental Hyperferritinemia in Very Young Infants with Mild Symptoms of COVID-19 Disease. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:children10050874. [PMID: 37238422 DOI: 10.3390/children10050874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2023] [Revised: 04/29/2023] [Accepted: 05/10/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The number of children infected with novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has increased during the outbreak of the Omicron strain. Hyperferritinemia has been reported in severe cases of COVID-19, and in children or neonates with multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS). Hyperferritinemia is considered to be one of the signs of MIS, but thus far, there have been few summarized reports on it. We retrospectively analyzed four infants less than 3 months of age with SARS-CoV-2 infections treated in our institution during the outbreak of the Omicron strain. RESULTS most patients were in good condition, but hyperferritinemia was observed in all of four cases. CONCLUSIONS Hyperferritinemia can be observed in infantile COVID-19 patients even with mild symptoms. It is necessary to carefully monitor their clinical course and monitor the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuka Shishido
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki 9868522, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Nakamura
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki 9868522, Japan
- Department of Neurology, Miyagi Children's Hospital, Sendai 9893126, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Nakagawa
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai 9808574, Japan
| | - Shinsuke Kanou
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki 9868522, Japan
| | - Takeshi Ito
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki 9868522, Japan
| | - Shota Kuwana
- Department of Pediatrics, Japanese Red Cross Ishinomaki Hospital, Ishinomaki 9868522, Japan
| | - Chiharu Ota
- Department of Pediatrics, Tohoku University Hospital, Sendai 9808574, Japan
- Department of Development and Environmental Medicine, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai 9808575, Japan
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6
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Vanetti C, Lampasona V, Stracuzzi M, Fenizia C, Biasin M, Saulle I, Limanaqi F, Abdelsalam A, Loretelli C, Paradiso L, Longoni E, Barcellini L, Piemonti L, Marzinotto I, Dispinseri S, Amendola A, Fappani C, Tanzi E, Clerici MS, Scarlatti G, Zuccotti GV, Giacomet V, Trabattoni D. The Immunological Profile of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children Is Linked to Clinical Severity and Age. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24076779. [PMID: 37047752 PMCID: PMC10095251 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24076779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 04/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) is clinically less severe in children, even if the wide variety and degree of severity of symptoms reported in children pose a still-unresolved challenge for clinicians. We performed an in-depth analysis of the immunological profiles of 18 hospitalized SARS-CoV-2-infected children, whose results were compared to those obtained from 13 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (HC). The patients were categorized as paucisymptomatic/moderate (55.6%) or severe/critical (44.5%) according to established diagnostic criteria and further stratified into the categories of infants (1–12 months), children (1–12 years), and adolescents (>12 years). We assessed SARS-CoV-2-specific RBD antibodies (Ab), neutralizing antibodies (nAb), and circulating cytokines/chemokines in the plasma, and the SARS-CoV-2-specific immune response was measured in PBMCs by gene expression and secretome analyses. Our results showed peculiar circulating cytokine/chemokine profiles among patients sharing a similar clinical phenotype. A cluster of patients consisting of infants with severe symptoms presented hyperinflammatory profiles, together with extremely polarized antibody profiles. In a second cluster consisting of paucisymptomatic patients, a less pronounced increase in the level of inflammatory cytokines, together with an association between the selected cytokines and humoral responses, was observed. A third cluster, again consisting of paucisymptomatic patients, showed a circulating cytokine/chemokine profile which overlapped with that of the HC. The SARS-CoV-2-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory proteins, T lymphocyte activation, and migration-specific proteins, were significantly increased in SARS-CoV-2-infected children compared to the HC. Our findings suggest that immune response activation in the course of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children is directly correlated with clinical severity and, to a lesser extent, age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Vanetti
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Vito Lampasona
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Marta Stracuzzi
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Ospedale L. Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Fenizia
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Mara Biasin
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Irma Saulle
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Fiona Limanaqi
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Ahmed Abdelsalam
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- International Center for T1D, Paediatric Clinical Research Center Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Cristian Loretelli
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
- International Center for T1D, Paediatric Clinical Research Center Romeo ed Enrica Invernizzi, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Paradiso
- Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Emma Longoni
- Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Lucia Barcellini
- Department of Paediatrics, Ospedale dei Bambini V. Buzzi, 20154 Milan, Italy
| | - Lorenzo Piemonti
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Ilaria Marzinotto
- Diabetes Research Institute, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Stefania Dispinseri
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Antonella Amendola
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Fappani
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Tanzi
- Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Mario Salvatore Clerici
- Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
- IRCCS Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi, 20148 Milan, Italy
| | - Gabriella Scarlatti
- Viral Evolution and Transmission Unit, IRCCS Ospedale San Raffaele, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | | | - Vania Giacomet
- Paediatric Infectious Disease Unit, Ospedale L. Sacco, 20157 Milan, Italy
| | - Daria Trabattoni
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20157 Milan, Italy
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7
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Pawłowska M, Pokorska-Śpiewak M, Talarek E, Mania A, Hasiec B, Żwirek-Pytka E, Stankiewicz M, Stani M, Frańczak-Chmura P, Szenborn L, Zaleska I, Chruszcz J, Majda-Stanisławska E, Dryja U, Gąsiorowska K, Figlerowicz M, Mazur-Melewska K, Faltin K, Ciechanowski P, Peregrym M, Łasecka-Zadrożna J, Rudnicki J, Szczepańska B, Pałyga-Bysiecka I, Rogowska E, Hudobska-Nawrot D, Domańska-Granek K, Sybilski A, Kucharek I, Franczak J, Sobolewska-Pilarczyk M, Kuchar E, Wronowski M, Paryż M, Kalicki B, Toczyłowski K, Sulik A, Niedźwiecka S, Flisiak R, Marczyńska M. Clinical Course and Severity of COVID-19 in 940 Infants with and without Comorbidities Hospitalized in 2020 and 2021: The Results of the National Multicenter Database SARSTer-PED. J Clin Med 2023; 12:jcm12072479. [PMID: 37048562 PMCID: PMC10095202 DOI: 10.3390/jcm12072479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 03/10/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/14/2023] Open
Abstract
This study aimed to analyze the differences in severity and clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in infants hospitalized in Poland in 2021, when the dominance of variants of concern (VOCs) alpha and delta was reported, compared to 2020, when original (wild) SARS-CoV-2 was dominant (III-IV vs. I-II waves of the pandemic, respectively). In addition, the influence of the presence of comorbidities on the clinical course of COVID-19 in infants was studied. This multicenter study, based on the pediatric part of the national SARSTer database (SARSTer-PED), included 940 infants with COVID-19 diagnosed between March 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021, from 13 Polish inpatient centers. An electronic questionnaire, which addressed epidemiological and clinical data, was used. The number of hospitalized infants was significantly higher in 2021 than in 2020 (651 vs. 289, respectively). The analysis showed similar lengths of infant hospitalization in 2020 and 2021, but significantly more children were hospitalized for more than 7 days in 2020 (p < 0.009). In both analyzed periods, the most common route of infection for infants was household contact. There was an increase in the percentage of comorbidities, especially prematurity, in children hospitalized in 2021 compared to 2020. Among the clinical manifestations, fever was predominant among children hospitalized in 2021 and 2020. Cough, runny nose, and loss of appetite were significantly more frequently observed in 2021 (p < 0.0001). Severe and critical conditions were significantly more common among children with comorbidities. More infants were hospitalized during the period of VOCs dominance, especially the delta variant, compared to the period of wild strain dominance, even though indications for hospitalization did not include asymptomatic patients during that period. The course of COVID-19 was mostly mild, characterized mainly by fever and respiratory symptoms. Comorbidities, particularly from the cardiovascular system and prematurity, were associated with a more severe course of the disease in infants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Małgorzata Pawłowska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Maria Pokorska-Śpiewak
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw; Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Ewa Talarek
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw; Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Anna Mania
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Barbara Hasiec
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Provincial Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Żwirek-Pytka
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Provincial Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Magdalena Stankiewicz
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Provincial Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Martyna Stani
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Provincial Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Paulina Frańczak-Chmura
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Provincial Jan Boży Hospital in Lublin, 20-400 Lublin, Poland
| | - Leszek Szenborn
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Izabela Zaleska
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Joanna Chruszcz
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-367 Wrocław, Poland
| | - Ewa Majda-Stanisławska
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
| | - Urszula Dryja
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
| | - Kamila Gąsiorowska
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Lodz, 90-419 Łódź, Poland
| | - Magdalena Figlerowicz
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Mazur-Melewska
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Kamil Faltin
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Child Neurology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, 61-701 Poznań, Poland
| | - Przemysław Ciechanowski
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital in Szczecin, 71-455 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Michał Peregrym
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital in Szczecin, 71-455 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Joanna Łasecka-Zadrożna
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital in Szczecin, 71-455 Szczecin, Poland
| | - Józef Rudnicki
- Department of Pediatrics and Infectious Diseases, Regional Hospital in Szczecin, 71-455 Szczecin, Poland
| | | | | | - Ewelina Rogowska
- Collegium Medicum, Jan Kochanowski University, 25-369 Kielce, Poland
| | | | | | - Adam Sybilski
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology with Allergology Center, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Izabela Kucharek
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics, Centre of Postgraduate Medical Education, 01-813 Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Pediatrics and Neonatology with Allergology Center, Central Clinical Hospital of the Ministry of the Interior, 02-507 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Justyna Franczak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Sobolewska-Pilarczyk
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Faculty of Medicine, Collegium Medicum, Nicolaus Copernicus University, 85-067 Bydgoszcz, Poland
| | - Ernest Kuchar
- Department of Pediatrics with Clinical Assessment Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Michał Wronowski
- Department of Pediatrics with Clinical Assessment Unit, Medical University of Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Maria Paryż
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology and Allergology, Military Institute of Medicine, 01-755 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Bolesław Kalicki
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Nephrology and Allergology, Military Institute of Medicine, 01-755 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Kacper Toczyłowski
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Białystok, Poland
| | - Artur Sulik
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Białystok, Poland
| | - Sławomira Niedźwiecka
- Department of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Pomeranian Center of Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis in Gdańsk, 80-214 Gdańsk, Poland
| | - Robert Flisiak
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Hepatology, Medical University of Bialystok, 15-089 Białystok, Poland
| | - Magdalena Marczyńska
- Department of Children's Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw; Regional Hospital of Infectious Diseases in Warsaw, 02-091 Warsaw, Poland
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8
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Pillai A, Nayak A, Tiwari D, Pillai PK, Pandita A, Sakharkar S, Balasubramanian H, Kabra N. COVID-19 Disease in Under-5 Children: Current Status and Strategies for Prevention including Vaccination. Vaccines (Basel) 2023; 11:693. [PMID: 36992278 PMCID: PMC10058749 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines11030693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2023] [Revised: 03/11/2023] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic hit the globe in early 2020, we have steadily gained insight into its pathogenesis; thereby improving surveillance and preventive measures. In contrast to other respiratory viruses, neonates and young children infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have a milder clinical presentation, with only a small proportion needing hospitalization and intensive care support. With the emergence of novel variants and improved testing services, there has been a higher incidence of COVID-19 disease reported among children and neonates. Despite this, the proportion of young children with severe disease has not increased. Key mechanisms that protect young children from severe COVID-19 disease include the placental barrier, differential expression of angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE-2) receptors, immature immune response, and passive transfer of antibodies via placenta and human milk. Implementing mass vaccination programs has been a major milestone in reducing the global disease burden. However, considering the lower risk of severe COVID-19 illness in young children and the limited evidence about long-term vaccine safety, the risk-benefit balance in children under five years of age is more complex. In this review, we do not support or undermine vaccination of young children but outline current evidence and guidelines, and highlight controversies, knowledge gaps, and ethical issues related to COVID-19 vaccination in young children. Regulatory bodies should consider the individual and community benefits of vaccinating younger children in their local epidemiological setting while planning regional immunization policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anish Pillai
- Surya Hospitals, Mangal Ashirwad Building, Swami Vivekananda Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai 400054, Maharashtra, India
- British Columbia Children’s Hospital Research Institute, 938 West 28th Avenue, Vancouver, BC V5Z 4H4, Canada
| | - Anuja Nayak
- Bai Jerabai Wadia Hospital for Children, Acharya Donde Marg, Parel East, Parel, Mumbai 400012, Maharashtra, India
| | - Deepika Tiwari
- Surya Hospitals, Mangal Ashirwad Building, Swami Vivekananda Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai 400054, Maharashtra, India
| | - Pratichi Kadam Pillai
- Surya Hospitals, Mangal Ashirwad Building, Swami Vivekananda Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai 400054, Maharashtra, India
| | - Aakash Pandita
- Medanta Super Specialty Hospital, Sector-A, Pocket-1, Amar Shaheed Path, Golf City, Lucknow 226030, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Sachin Sakharkar
- Surya Hospitals, Mangal Ashirwad Building, Swami Vivekananda Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai 400054, Maharashtra, India
| | | | - Nandkishor Kabra
- Surya Hospitals, Mangal Ashirwad Building, Swami Vivekananda Road, Santacruz West, Mumbai 400054, Maharashtra, India
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9
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Naeimi R, Sepidarkish M, Mollalo A, Parsa H, Mahjour S, Safarpour F, Almukhtar M, Mechaal A, Chemaitelly H, Sartip B, Marhoommirzabak E, Ardekani A, Hotez PJ, Gasser RB, Rostami A. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 56:101786. [PMID: 36590788 PMCID: PMC9795163 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The higher hospitalisation rates of those aged 0-19 years (referred to herein as 'children') observed since the emergence of the immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and subvariants, along with the persisting vaccination disparities highlighted a need for in-depth knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiology in children. Here, we conducted this systematic review to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and determinants in children worldwide. METHODS In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we searched international and preprinted scientific databases from December 1, 2019 to July 10, 2022. Pooled seroprevalences were estimated according to World Health Organization (WHO) regions (at 95% confidence intervals, CIs) using random-effects meta-analyses. Associations with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and sources of heterogeneity were investigated using sub-group and meta-regression analyses. The protocol used in this study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022350833). FINDINGS We included 247 studies involving 757,075 children from 70 countries. Seroprevalence estimates varied from 7.3% (5.8-9.1%) in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to 37.6% (18.1-59.4%) in the fifth wave and 56.6% (52.8-60.5%) in the sixth wave. The highest seroprevalences in different pandemic waves were estimated for South-East Asia (17.9-81.8%) and African (17.2-66.1%) regions; while the lowest seroprevalence was estimated for the Western Pacific region (0.01-1.01%). Seroprevalence estimates were higher in children at older ages, in those living in underprivileged countries or regions, and in those of minority ethnic backgrounds. INTERPRETATION Our findings indicate that, by the end of 2021 and before the Omicron wave, around 50-70% of children globally were still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, clearly emphasising the need for more effective vaccines and better vaccination coverage among children and adolescents, particularly in developing countries and minority ethnic groups. FUNDING None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Naeimi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mahdi Sepidarkish
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Mollalo
- Department of Public Health and Prevention Science, School of Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, USA
| | - Hamid Parsa
- Department of Neurology, University of Visayas, Gullas College of Medicine, Cebu City, 600 Cebu, Philippines
| | - Sanaz Mahjour
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Fatemeh Safarpour
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | | | - Amal Mechaal
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Hiam Chemaitelly
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar-Foundation-Education City, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, USA
| | - Behnam Sartip
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Elika Marhoommirzabak
- Department of Neurology, University of Visayas, Gullas College of Medicine, Cebu City, 600 Cebu, Philippines
| | - Ali Ardekani
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Corresponding author.
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
- Corresponding author.
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10
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Omicron in Infants-Respiratory or Digestive Disease? Diagnostics (Basel) 2023; 13:diagnostics13030421. [PMID: 36766525 PMCID: PMC9914388 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics13030421] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2022] [Revised: 01/14/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 has caused a large number of cases and hospitalizations in the pediatric population. Infants due to their age are susceptible to viral infections that may have a worse prognosis. Therefore, the aim of the current study has been to characterize the clinical features and the outcome of infants hospitalized with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection during the Omicron wave. We conducted a retrospective study of all consecutive infants hospitalized with symptomatic COVID-19 and no other co-infections, from January to September 2022 in one of the largest infectious diseases hospitals from Bucharest, Romania. A total of 613 infants were included in the analysis. The median age was 5 months (IQR: 3, 8 months). The clinical features were dominated by fever (96.4%), cough (64.8%) and loss of appetite (63.3%), and overall, respiratory symptoms were the most numerous (76.0%). Infants between 1-3 months old had a 1.5-fold increased risk of elevated alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values, and a longer length of hospitalization as compared to older infants. Infants between 7-9 months of age had 1.5-fold higher odds of loss of appetite, 1.7-fold more frequent cough and 1.6-fold more frequent digestive symptoms compared to infants in other age groups. The presence of digestive symptoms increased the probability of hepatic cytolysis (increased ALT) by 1.9-fold. Continued monitoring of COVID-19 among infants is very necessary, given the progressive character of SARS-CoV-2, in order to take correct and rapid therapeutic measures and to adapt to clinical changes driven by viral variant change.
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11
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Causes of Intensive Care Unit Admissions in Children with SARS-CoV-2: A Single-Centre Observational Study. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 10:children10010075. [PMID: 36670627 PMCID: PMC9856882 DOI: 10.3390/children10010075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2022] [Revised: 12/10/2022] [Accepted: 12/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Background: The proportion of intensive care unit (ICU) admissions in children that have and have not been directly caused by SARS-CoV-2 remains unclear. The aim of the study is to analyse a cohort of children admitted to the ICU with SARS-CoV-2 and determine whether the infection was the primary cause of their hospitalisation, a significant contributor, a suspected accomplice, or an incidental finding. Methods: This was a retrospective observational study of all the children admitted to the ICU with SARS-CoV-2 from March 2020 to February 2022 from the South Moravia region. The aim of the study was to assess whether the hospitalisation was likely to be directly caused by the virus (i.e., patients with acute COVID-19; the COVID group), whether the virus was a significant contributor to the hospitalisation (i.e., patients with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children due to COVID-19; the MIS-C group), whether it may have contributed to the worsening of their underlying disease (the WORSENING group), or whether it was an incidental finding very likely unrelated to hospitalisation where SARS-CoV-2 positivity merely placed patients in the COVID-19 unit (the ISOLATION group). The groups were compared using a series of secondary outcomes. Results: The study population represented 150 paediatric ICU cases (age 8.6; IQR 3.5−13.3 years), with 66.7% being male. The COVID group represented 32.7% of cases (49/150); MIS-C, 30% (45/150); WORSENING, 14.7% (22/150); and ISOLATION, 22.7% (34/150). The median length of hospitalisation was found for the MIS-C group (11 days; 9 days in the ICU), the COVID group (6 days; five days in the ICU), WORSENING group (4.5 days; 4.5 days in the ICU) and the ISOLATION group (5.5 days; 3.5 days in the ICU), where the difference was significant (p < 0.001). Asymptomatic and mild cases were most common in the WORSENING (36.4% and 63.6%) and ISOLATION (52.9% and 44.1%) groups. Severe and critical cases were only present in the COVID (6.1% and 12.2%) and MIS-C (4.4% and 11.1%) groups; the severity difference was significant (p < 0.001). The groups did not differ significantly in the proportion of complete recovery and short- and long-term sequelae (p = 0.09). Conclusions: Patients with acute COVID-19 accounted for one-third of all ICU admissions, patients with MIS-C accounted for approximately another third, patients with worsening underlying disease accounted for 15%, and patients with incidental findings of SARS-CoV-2 positivity accounted for one-fifth of ICU admissions. A more significant disease was seen with acute COVID-19 and MIS-C.
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12
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The Age-Related Course of COVID-19 in Pediatric Patients-1405 Cases in a Single Center. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11247347. [PMID: 36555963 PMCID: PMC9782360 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11247347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2022] [Revised: 12/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Since the beginning of the pandemic, many reports have pointed to age as the most important risk factor for severe COVID-19 in adults, but this relationship is less clear in children. Between March 2020 and April 2022, 1405 pediatric COVID-19 patients were included in our prospective study, which aimed to analyze the disease's characteristics in three age groups: infants, toddlers (1-5 years), and children (5-18 years). We observed male prevalence of the disease in infants and toddlers compared to female prevalence in children. Comorbidities appeared most often in children. In the first pandemic wave, the vast majority of pediatric patients were children, but later, the percentage of infant and toddler patients increased significantly. A total of 74% of hospitalized children were younger than five years. Upper respiratory tract symptoms were most common in infants and toddlers, and lower respiratory tract symptoms and gastroenterocolitis were more common in children. Neurological symptoms appeared similarly in all age groups. The activities of ALT, CK, and LDH were the most elevated in infants, along with D-dimers. The median length of hospitalization fluctuated between three and four days and was highest in infants. Severe courses were more common in adolescents.
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13
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The Seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG Antibodies in Children Hospitalized for Reasons Other Than COVID-19. J Clin Med 2022; 11:jcm11133819. [PMID: 35807103 PMCID: PMC9267741 DOI: 10.3390/jcm11133819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of the study was to assess the seroprevalence of SARS-CoV-2 IgG antibodies in children hospitalized for reasons other than COVID-19. The study was conducted among 686 children, aged 2 weeks to 18 years, hospitalized in the Department of Paediatrics, Infectious Diseases, and Hepatology in Bydgoszcz, Poland, in the period from 1 June 2021 to 30 April 2022. The presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies was detected in 392 (57%) children. Since December 2021, a significantly larger proportion of children with a positive titer of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies has been observed, constituting as much as 87.5% of patients hospitalized in April 2022. In total, 69% of children with detected anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were children under 5 years of age. The highest mean amounts of titers of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies were observed in children over 10 years of age. The conducted studies showed the presence of anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in a significant group of hospitalized children and an increase in the percentage of these children during the fourth and fifth wave of COVID-19 in Poland caused by the Delta and Omicron variants, respectively. The vast majority of parents of the studied children had no knowledge of the COVID-19 infection in their charges, which may indicate asymptomatic infection or mild course of the disease.
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