COVID-19 and rhinovirus in pediatric: are there differences in clinical
presentation and outcomes?
Abstract
The dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory virus in children and
adolescents is relevant in clinical context. There are few studies
comparing clinical course in COVID-19 (coronavirus disease) and other
respiratory virus in pediatric patients. The aim of this study was to
compare demographics and clinical features, exams abnormalities, and
outcomes in SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory virus infections in a
pediatric population. This was a single-center prospective study,
between April 17 to September 30, 2020. We evaluated 76 pediatric
COVID-19 and 157 other respiratory virus infections. Rhinovirus occurred
in 132/157(84%). COVID-19 patients were significantly older, had more
fever (69% versus 50%; p=0.01), pneumonia (22% versus 5%;
p<0.01), myalgia (29% versus 8%; p=0.001), headache (31%
versus 14%; p=0.01) and worse outcomes than those with other
respiratory virus infections. Our data emphasizes differences in
clinical presentation and outcomes between pediatric COVID-19 and
rhinovirus infections.