1
|
Shafaei B, Nafei Z, Karimi M, Behniafard N, Shamsi F, Faisal M, Amel Shahbaz AP, Akbarian E. Which Groups of Children Are at More Risk of Fatality during COVID-19 Pandemic? A Case-Control Study in Yazd, Iran. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY = JOURNAL CANADIEN DES MALADIES INFECTIEUSES ET DE LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE 2023; 2023:8838056. [PMID: 38130842 PMCID: PMC10735732 DOI: 10.1155/2023/8838056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Introduction The study aims to investigate the characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory findings, and clinical manifestations of under 18-year-old patients who died with the diagnosis of COVID-19 and determination of the most prevalent risk factors. Method This case-control study was performed at a referral hospital in Yazd from March 2020 to August 2021. All patients under 18 years who were diagnosed through real-time RT-PCR, chest computed tomography, and the World Health Organization definition were divided into deceased and survived groups. The characteristics (age and sex), disease severity, comorbidities, laboratory findings, and clinical manifestations of the two groups were compared and analyzed using SPSS, version 18 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, III., USA). Results A total of 24 patients in the deceased group and 167 patients in the survived group were compared. The highest mortality rate was observed in the age group of 1 month to 5 years, although no statistically significant relationship was found between age groups and the risk of mortality. Disease severity, dyspnea, low oxygen saturation on admission, length of hospital stays, and hospitalization history before the last admission were significantly correlated with mortality (P < 0.05). Lymphopenia increased the probability of mortality by more than two times (OR: 2.568; 95% CI (0.962-6.852)), but this was not the case for D-dimer and C-reactive protein. Furthermore, 27.5% of survived patients had normal chest CT scans, which was a statistically significant difference compared to the deceased patients (P: 0.031). Conclusion Based on the findings of this study, dyspnea, low oxygen saturation, and lymphopenia are critical indicators for identifying high-risk children with COVID-19 and triaging them for better care and treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Behnam Shafaei
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Zahra Nafei
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mehran Karimi
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Nasrin Behniafard
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Farimah Shamsi
- Center of Healthcare Data Modeling, Department of Biostatics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Masoud Faisal
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Amir Pasha Amel Shahbaz
- Department of Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Elahe Akbarian
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Karimi A, Jamee M, Shokri Y, Heidari A, Nazarpack F, Fallahi M, Shiari R, Li PH, Sharifinejad N, Sharafian S, Mahdaviani SA, Mansouri D, Zeinali A, Alyasin S, Chavoshzadeh Z. Clinical Course, Therapeutic Management and Outcome of Coronavirus Disease in Patients With Inborn Errors of Immunity: A Retrospective Multicenter Experience From Iran. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:1102-1106. [PMID: 37751625 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) are characterized by defects in the structure and function of the immune system. This study was designed to assess the impact of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection on this potentially particularly susceptible group of patients. METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study analyzed patients from 3 referral immunodeficiency centers in Iran. The demographic, clinical, laboratory and therapeutical data of confirmed IEI patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection were collected and analyzed. RESULTS A total of 19 IEI patients, 52.6% male and 47.4% female, with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) were enrolled. The most common diagnosed IEIs were (severe) combined immunodeficiency ((S)CID) (9, 47.4%) and predominantly antibody deficiencies (7, 36.8%). The main presenting symptoms included fever (16, 84.2%), cough (12, 63.2%), dyspnea (9, 47.4%) and myalgia (8, 42.1%). Among additional preexisting comorbidities, atopy ( P = 0.087) and renal disorders ( P = 0.087) were more strongly associated with the development of respiratory failure, although not statistically significant. SARS-CoV-2 infection was determined by polymerase chain reaction (n = 19, 100%) within a median (interquartile range) of 1 (0-6) days following admission. Among all laboratory indices, thrombocytopenia ( P = 0.009) was associated with a need for intensive care unit admission. The overall mortality rate was 36.9% and highest among (S)CID patients (4, 44.4%). CONCLUSIONS Severe COVID-19 most frequently affected (S)CID and predominantly antibody deficiencies patients among this multicenter Iranian cohort. Further studies are required to evaluate the impact of additional preexisting comorbidities and the development of thrombocytopenia on the severity and prognosis of COVID-19 in IEIs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abdollah Karimi
- From the Pediatric Infections Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health
| | - Mahnaz Jamee
- Pediatric Nephrology Research Center, Research Institute for Children's Health
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Youssef Shokri
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Atefeh Heidari
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Nazarpack
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mazdak Fallahi
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Reza Shiari
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Department of Pediatrics, Mofid Cildren's Hospital, Shahid Behehsti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Philip H Li
- Division of Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology, Department of Medicine, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Niusha Sharifinejad
- Non-communicable Diseases Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - Samin Sharafian
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Seyed Alireza Mahdaviani
- Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Mansouri
- Pediatric Respiratory Diseases Research Center, National Research Institute of Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases (NRITLD), Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | | | - Soheila Alyasin
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Namazi Hospital
- Allergy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zahra Chavoshzadeh
- Immunology and Allergy Department, Mofid Children's Hospital, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Albanji MH, Baghafar AA, Alghanmi YA, Shaaban MM, Alkashlan EA, Sende HH, Alzahrani MS, Filfilan NN. Clinical Presentation and Management of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children With COVID-19: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2023; 15:e46918. [PMID: 37954764 PMCID: PMC10639140 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.46918] [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] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is a relatively new syndrome associated with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) that is characterized by a severe clinical course compared to pediatric COVID-19. This review aimed to compile the available evidence on the clinical presentation and management of MIS-C in children with COVID-19. During this systematic review, a comprehensive search was performed in the following databases: PubMed, Embase, Medline, Google Scholar, Cochrane, and Scopus, using predetermined search terms, such as Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) and keywords to find relevant studies on the MIS-C. Relevant data were extracted, and the quality of the studies was evaluated using suitable methods. The collected findings were synthesized and discussed in the study. The World Health Organization's (WHO) definition of MIS-C was the most favored due to its precision and inclusiveness. MIS-C primarily affected children aged 6-12 years, with male predominance. MIS-C involves a range of systems, including gastrointestinal, cardiovascular, hematologic, mucocutaneous, and respiratory. Radiographic findings revealed cardiovascular abnormalities, solid visceral organ involvement, and bowel abnormalities, reflecting a systemic inflammatory process. Laboratory investigations unveiled elevated inflammatory markers, neutrophil activation, release of extracellular traps in vessels, elevated procalcitonin, hyponatremia, hypoalbuminemia, low hemoglobin, and thrombocytopenia. The inflammatory markers and autoantibody profiles are essential in differentiating MIS-C from COVID-19. The preferred treatment primarily involves immunomodulatory therapies like intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG), glucocorticoids, and interleukin-6 or 1RA inhibitors or a combination of those. In severe cases, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) and mechanical ventilation are necessary, leading to reduced mortality and quick recovery. This review found that the average hospital stay was seven days, and most discharged children fully recovered within seven days. MIS-C is a life-threatening post-COVID-19 condition and involves multiple systems due to systemic inflammation, with elevated inflammation markers. Recognition of multisystem involvement is crucial, and prompt identification and multidisciplinary treatment are vital for optimal outcomes.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Haifa H Sende
- Pediatrics, Royal Commission Medical Center, Yanbu, SAU
| | | | - Nuha N Filfilan
- Family and Community Medicine, College of Medicine, Taif University, Taif, SAU
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Shamsi F, Karimi M, Nafei Z, Akbarian E. Survival and Mortality in Hospitalized Children with COVID-19: A Referral Center Experience in Yazd, Iran. THE CANADIAN JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES & MEDICAL MICROBIOLOGY = JOURNAL CANADIEN DES MALADIES INFECTIEUSES ET DE LA MICROBIOLOGIE MEDICALE 2023; 2023:5205188. [PMID: 37492855 PMCID: PMC10365916 DOI: 10.1155/2023/5205188] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 07/04/2023] [Indexed: 07/27/2023]
Abstract
Introduction COVID-19 prognostic risk factors, therapeutic protocols, and clinical outcomes in pediatric cases are still under investigation. Materials and Methods This historical cohort study evaluated the survival time of hospitalized children (1 month-18 years old) with COVID-19 admitted from March 2020 to August 2021 to an educational hospital in Yazd, Iran. The follow-up of patients was performed at least one month after discharge. Results From 183 hospitalized cases, 24 children were deceased. The median age of patients was 5.41, and 54.2% were male. The survival rate after one-month follow-up was 0.88, and the most significant predictors associated with survival time were the male sex, positive history of hospitalization, lymphopenia, hypoxia, and length of stay more than two weeks using Bayesian Cox regression analysis. Conclusion Accurate estimation of the impact of predictors on poor outcomes may help healthcare providers use therapeutic protocols based on risk factors and healthcare requirements of each patient to improve their survival.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Farimah Shamsi
- Center for Healthcare Data Modeling, Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Mehran Karimi
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Zahra Nafei
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| | - Elahe Akbarian
- Children Growth Disorder Research Center, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Fattahi P, Abdi S, Saeedi E, Sirous S, Firuzian F, Mohammadi M, Taheri N, Khaki M, Qandian A, Lotfi F, Iranmehr A, Nemati S, Rajabpour MV. In-hospital mortality of COVID-19 in Iranian children and youth: A multi-centre retrospective cohort study. J Glob Health 2022; 12:05048. [PMID: 36370421 PMCID: PMC9653210 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.05048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background COVID-19 presents as a mild and less severe respiratory disease among children. However, it is still lethal and could lead to death in paediatric cases. The current study aimed to investigate the clinical characteristics of children and young people hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Qazvin-Iran. We also investigated the risk factors of death due to COVID-19 in paediatric cases. Methods We performed a retrospective cohort study on 645 children and young people (ages 0-17) hospitalized since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The cases were confirmed with positive results of reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The data were retrieved from an electronic database of demographic, epidemiological, and clinical characteristics. Results The median age of the admitted patients was 4.0 years, 33.6% were under 12 months old, and 53.0% were female. Fever, cough, nausea/vomiting, dyspnoea, and myalgia were the most common symptoms presented by 50.5%, 47.6%, 24.2%, and 23.0% of the patients, respectively. Overall, we observed 16 cases of death and the in-hospital fatality rate was 2.5%. We also found comorbidity as an independent risk factor of death (odds ratio (OR) = 3.8, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.2-12.1, P-value = 0.022). Finally, we observed an increased risk of death in patients with dyspnoea (OR = 11.0, 95% CI = 2.8-43.7). Conclusion In-hospital mortality was relatively high in paediatric patients who were hospitalized due to COVID-19 in Iran. The risk of hospitalization, ICU admission, and death was higher among children with younger ages, underlying causes, and dyspnoea.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pedram Fattahi
- Student Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepideh Abdi
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Elnaz Saeedi
- Student Research Center, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Samin Sirous
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Farnaz Firuzian
- School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Mohammadi
- Emergency Medicine Management Research Center, Health Management Research Institute, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Negar Taheri
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mina Khaki
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ali Qandian
- Communicable disease office, Deputy of Health, Qazvin University of Medical Sciences, Qazvin, Iran
| | - Fereshte Lotfi
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Arad Iranmehr
- Neurological Surgery Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Saeed Nemati
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mojtaba Vand Rajabpour
- Cancer Research Center, Cancer Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Bertran M, Amin-Chowdhury Z, Davies HG, Allen H, Clare T, Davison C, Sinnathamby M, Seghezzo G, Kall M, Williams H, Gent N, Ramsay ME, Ladhani SN, Oligbu G. COVID-19 deaths in children and young people in England, March 2020 to December 2021: An active prospective national surveillance study. PLoS Med 2022; 19:e1004118. [PMID: 36346784 PMCID: PMC9642873 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pmed.1004118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) deaths are rare in children and young people (CYP). The high rates of asymptomatic and mild infections complicate assessment of cause of death in CYP. We assessed the cause of death in all CYP with a positive Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) test since the start of the pandemic in England. METHODS AND FINDINGS CYP aged <20 years who died within 100 days of laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between 01 March 2020 and 31 December 2021 in England were followed up in detail, using national databases, surveillance questionnaires, post-mortem reports, and clinician interviews. There were 185 deaths during the 22-month follow-up and 81 (43.8%) were due to COVID-19. Compared to non-COVID-19 deaths in CYP with a positive SARS-CoV-2 test, death due to COVID-19 was independently associated with older age (aOR 1.06 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.01 to 1.11, p = 0.02) and underlying comorbidities (aOR 2.52 95% CI 1.27 to 5.01, p = 0.008), after adjusting for age, sex, ethnicity group, and underlying conditions, with a shorter interval between SARS-CoV-2 testing and death. Half the COVID-19 deaths (41/81, 50.6%) occurred within 7 days of confirmation of SARS-CoV-2 infection and 91% (74/81) within 30 days. Of the COVID-19 deaths, 61 (75.3%) had an underlying condition, especially severe neurodisability (n = 27) and immunocompromising conditions (n = 12). Over the 22-month surveillance period, SARS-CoV-2 was responsible for 1.2% (81/6,790) of all deaths in CYP aged <20 years, with an infection fatality rate of 0.70/100,000 SARS-CoV-2 infections in this age group estimated through real-time, nowcasting modelling, and a mortality rate of 0.61/100,000. Limitations include possible under-ascertainment of deaths in CYP who were not tested for SARS-CoV-2 and lack of direct access to clinical data for hospitalised CYP. CONCLUSIONS COVID-19 deaths remain extremely rare in CYP, with most fatalities occurring within 30 days of infection and in children with specific underlying conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marta Bertran
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Zahin Amin-Chowdhury
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah G. Davies
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hester Allen
- COVID-19 National Epidemiology Cell, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tom Clare
- COVID-19 National Epidemiology Cell, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Chloe Davison
- COVID-19 National Epidemiology Cell, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mary Sinnathamby
- COVID-19 National Epidemiology Cell, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Seghezzo
- COVID-19 National Epidemiology Cell, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Meaghan Kall
- COVID-19 National Epidemiology Cell, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hannah Williams
- Joint Modelling Team (JMT), UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
- Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Nick Gent
- Joint Modelling Team (JMT), UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
- Emergency Preparedness, Response and Resilience, UK Health Security Agency, Porton Down, United Kingdom
| | - Mary E. Ramsay
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
| | - Shamez N. Ladhani
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
| | - Godwin Oligbu
- Immunisation and Vaccine Preventable Diseases Division, UK Health Security Agency, London, United Kingdom
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, St George’s University of London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Unalan-Altintop T, Celep G, Milletli-Sezgin F, Onarer P, Gozukara M, Bilgic I, Onal E, Can ME, Demir Hİ. The Impact of Alpha Variant (B.1.1.7), Viral Load, and Age on the Clinical Course of Pediatric COVID-19 Patients. J PEDIAT INF DIS-GER 2022. [DOI: 10.1055/s-0042-1750317] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Objective The research on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly consists of adult patients, leaving its impact on children understudied. This study aims to investigate the correlations between viral load, clinical course, age, and Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) in children.
Methods The study was conducted on children under the age of 18 years, who were admitted to Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Research and Training Hospital in Turkey between February and April 2021. ΔCt values, which were obtained by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), were analyzed to estimate the viral loads of the patients. Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) positivity was determined by real-time PCR.
Results There was no difference between estimated viral loads of different clinical courses (p > 0.05), or between asymptomatic and symptomatic patients (p > 0.05). Viral loads were found to decrease with increasing age (p = 0.002). Also, a higher rate of symptomatic disease was found in children under the age of 4 years (p < 0.05). Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was not found to be associated with severe disease in children (p > 0.05).
Conclusion Our results demonstrate higher viral loads and symptomatic disease in children under the age of 4 years. Alpha variant (B.1.1.7) was not found to be related to disease severity. There has not been a consensus on the vaccination of the pediatric population worldwide. More studies are needed to understand the viral kinetics of SARS-CoV-2 and its severity on children to build effective vaccination strategies in children as public health restrictions are eased.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tugce Unalan-Altintop
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Research and Training Hospital, Amasya, Turkey
| | - Gokce Celep
- Department of Pediatrics, Amasya University, Faculty of Medicine, Amasya, Turkey
| | | | - Pelin Onarer
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Research and Training Hospital, Amasya, Turkey
| | | | - Isıl Bilgic
- Department of Pediatric Respiratory Diseases, Ankara City Hospital, Ankara, Turkey
| | - Esra Onal
- Department of Pediatrics, Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Research and Training Hospital, Amasya, Turkey
| | - Muhammed Enis Can
- Department of Pediatrics, Amasya University Sabuncuoglu Serefeddin Research and Training Hospital, Amasya, Turkey
| | - Havva İpek Demir
- Department of Pediatrics, Evliya Celebi Research and Training Hospital, Kutahya, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|