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Epidemiology, Clinical Characteristics, and Treatment of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children: A Narrative Review
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  • Foster Kofi Ayittey,
  • Nyasha Bennita Chiwero,
  • Bablu Kumar Dhar,
  • Ebenezer Larteh Tettey
Foster Kofi Ayittey
, Curtin University Malaysia Campus

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Nyasha Bennita Chiwero
Curtin University Malaysia Campus
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Bablu Kumar Dhar
Yantai Vocational College
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Ebenezer Larteh Tettey
37 Military Hospital
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Abstract

SARS-CoV-2 has infected millions of people around the world, with most cases recorded among adults. The cases reported among children have been acknowledged to be minimal in comparison to adults. Nevertheless, COVID-19 has been reported to affect children at all ages, including newborns. The symptoms among children have also been identified to be similar to those observed among adults, although pediatric patients have been noted to display spectrum of clinical features ranging from asymptomatic through mild to moderate symptoms. Despite ample publications on the ongoing pandemic, the literature is only replete with guidelines on treating SARS-CoV-2 infection among older people. In this narrative review, comprehensive updates on the infection in children have been discussed. The latest information on the spread of the disease among children around the world, the clinical features observed among the pediatric population, as well as recommended pharmaceutical treatments of COVID-19 among this special group of patients have been covered. Further, expert consensus statements regarding the management of this highly contagious disease among pregnant women and neonates have been discussed. It is believed that this comprehensive review will provide updated information on the epidemiology and clinical features of the ongoing pandemic among pediatric patients. Additionally, the guidelines for handling SARS-CoV-2 among pregnant women and children, as reviewed in this article, are anticipated to be useful to frontline clinicians battling this fatal disease around the globe.
21 Apr 2020Submitted to International Journal of Clinical Practice
22 Apr 2020Submission Checks Completed
22 Apr 2020Assigned to Editor
27 Apr 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
22 Sep 2020Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
02 Dec 20201st Revision Received
08 Dec 2020Submission Checks Completed
08 Dec 2020Assigned to Editor
28 Dec 2020Reviewer(s) Assigned
02 Nov 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
19 Nov 2021Editorial Decision: Accept