Background: Children account for a small percentage of laboratory confirmed COVID-19 cases, with the clinical course different from the adults. The number of COVID positive cases increased from May 2020. It has been a challenge for clinicians worldwide to manage and treat COVID-19 affected patients, given the meagre information we have regarding the clinical course and the treatment protocols available.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical spectrum and outcome in children admitted with COVID-19.
Methods: This is a prospective study of children admitted to KIMS-Bangalore with confirmed COVID-19. In all cases patient demographics including history of exposure, symptoms, age, sex, address were obtained upon admission and laboratory findings were obtained from hospital records.
Results: in our study, 50 children were admitted to KIMS, bangalore. Contact history was found in 80% of the children. 20% were symptomatic without contact history. 54% children were asymptomatic, 46% were symptomatic. Of the symptomatic children, 54% had mild (with fever), 36% had moderate (fever with cough) and 8% had severe symptoms (fever, cough and breathlessness), cases between 6-12 years were –% with a slight female preponderance(54%). None of the children had known comorbid conditions. Oxygen dependency was found in 20% children. COVID was severe in 2 cases (4%), with secondary infection. No deaths were noted in our study.
Conclusion: The course of the disease in children was mild to moderate when compared to adults with no mortality. This is due to underdeveloped immune system, which have not affected the children in large extent. Asymptomatic cases have lead to underdiagnosis of COVID-19 in children, resulting in their becoming silent convalescent carriers and causing disease spread and increase in case load. Hence, it is of utmost importance that children be taught preventive measures such as usage of mask, hand hygiene by using soaps and sanitizers, avoid touching of surfaces and maintaining social distance with elderly persons in the family and surroundings. Upcoming vaccines to children are promising in ending COVID-19 pandemic.
