Clinical Presentation and Outcomes of Hospitalized Children with
Covid-19 in Mexico City
Abstract
Background. COVID-19 is usually less severe and has lower case fatality
in children than in adults. We aimed to characterize the clinical and
radiological features of children and adolescents hospitalized with
laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and to evaluate the risk
factors for COVID-19-related severity in the pediatric Mexican
population. Methods. We did an analysis of all patients younger than 18
years who had quantitative RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19, admitted to the
National Pediatrics Institute, and described their clinical
characteristics with the radiological findings at admission, related to
the severity and clinical outcome. Results. A total of 129 patients had
available data showing laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and
were included in the sample. Among these patients the most common signs
were fever (82.2%), tachypnea (72.1%) and cough (71.3%). The most
frequent radiological pattern that stood out was the interstitial
pattern (66.7%). History of oncologic pathology (25.6%) was the most
frequent past medical history. ESR was the only laboratory value
significantly associated with severity (27.82 23.83 mm/hr). NSAIDs
(93%), antibiotics (57.4%), and steroids (40.3%) were the most common
medication given. The average hospitalization stay was 14.2 days, 21.7%
of the total patients required transfer to the intensive care unit. At
discharge, 20.2% required oxygen on an outpatient basis, and
unfortunately 7.0% of the patients who were admitted to the institute
for COVID-19 died. Conclusions. COVID-19 in children was associated with
mild symptoms and good prognosis; ESR was the only laboratory value
significantly associated with severity. Patients with
hematologic/oncologic co-morbidities had severe presentations.