Coronavirus Disease in Children: A Single-Center Study from Western Saudi Arabia

• Main Authors: Rafat M. Mosalli (Author), Sumayyah Ahmed Nezar Kobeisy (Author), Nawaf M. Al-Dajani (Author), May Abu Ateeg (Author), Mostafa A. Ahmed (Author), Wael M. Meer (Author), Hussain Y. Al-Saeedi (Author), Saleh A. Al-Harbi (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Hindawi Limited, 2021-01-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Summary

Introduction. Local data in Saudi Arabia regarding pediatric SARS-CoV-2 infection is limited. This study is aimed at adding insight regarding the effect of the novel coronavirus on pediatric patients by studying the presentation, laboratory parameters, and disposition of SARS-CoV-2-infected pediatric patients in one center in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Methodology. A retrospective study was conducted at the International Medical Center (IMC) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, to assess features of pediatric patients admitted with COVID-19 from April 2020 to September 2020. Results. A total of 43 patients were found to meet the study inclusion criteria. The most common presenting symptom was fever (53.5%) in study participants followed by complaints of cough, runny nose, and shortness of breath (37.2%). Lymphocytopenia was evident among 60% of those studied. Elevated C-Reactive Protein was remarkable in 24.9%. More than half of those (53.5%) studied required only supportive treatment. Conclusion. COVID-19 disease for the most part is mild in children with a varying clinical picture and nonspecific laboratory parameters. Further, large-scale national-based studies are needed to help in the early identification of pediatric cases at risk of complication due to COVID-19 infection hence providing proper and timely management, identifying population-specific disease pattern and perhaps targeted immunization.

Item Description

1687-9740
1687-9759
10.1155/2021/9918056