Meraj Siddiqui1, Ayşe Gültekingil2, Oğuz Bakırcı1, Nihal Uslu Turan3, Esra Baskın4. 1. Department of Pediatrics, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. 2. Department of Pediatric Emergency, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. 3. Department of Radiodiagnostics, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey. 4. Department of Pediatric Nephrology and Rheumatology, Baskent University, Ankara, Turkey.
Abstract
Background: As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues to evolve, it is crucially important for pediatricians to be aware of the differences in demographic and clinical features between COVID-19 and influenza A and B infections. Purpose: This study analyzed and compared the clinical features and laboratory findings of COVID-19 and influenza A and B infections in children. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the medical data of 206 pediatric COVID-19 and 411 pediatric seasonal influenza A or B patients. Results: COVID-19 patients were older than seasonal influenza patients (median 7.75 [interquartile range, 2-14] years vs. 4 [2-6] years). The frequency of fever and cough in COVID-19 patients was lower than that of seasonal influenza patients (80.6% vs. 94.4%, p < 0.001) and 22.8 % vs. 71.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). Ageusia (4.9%) and anosmia (3.4%) were present in only COVID-19 patients. Leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia were encountered more frequently in influenza patients than in COVID-19 patients (22.1% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.029; 17.6% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.013; and 13.2% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.048, respectively). Both groups showed significantly elevated monocyte levels in the complete blood count (70.4% vs. 69.9%, p = 0.511). Major chest X-ray findings in COVID-19 patients included mild diffuse ground glass opacity and right lower lobe infiltrates. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in hospitalization or mortality rates; however, the intensive care unit admission rate was higher among COVID-19 patients (2.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.045). Conclusion: In this study, pediatric COVID-19 patients showed a wide range of clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic/mild to severe illness. We found no intergroup differences in hospitalization rates, oxygen requirements, or hospital length of stay; however, the intensive care unit admission rate was higher among COVID-19 patients.
Background: As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak continues to evolve, it is crucially important for pediatricians to be aware of the differences in demographic and clinical features between COVID-19 and influenza A and Binfections. Purpose: This study analyzed and compared the clinical features and laboratory findings of COVID-19 and influenza A and Binfections in children. Methods: This retrospective study evaluated the medical data of 206 pediatric COVID-19 and 411 pediatric seasonal influenza A or B patients. Results:COVID-19patients were older than seasonal influenzapatients (median 7.75 [interquartile range, 2-14] years vs. 4 [2-6] years). The frequency of fever and cough in COVID-19patients was lower than that of seasonal influenzapatients (80.6% vs. 94.4%, p < 0.001) and 22.8 % vs. 71.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). Ageusia (4.9%) and anosmia (3.4%) were present in only COVID-19patients. Leukopenia, lymphopenia, and thrombocytopenia were encountered more frequently in influenzapatients than in COVID-19patients (22.1% vs. 8.5%, p = 0.029; 17.6% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.013; and 13.2% vs. 5.6%, p = 0.048, respectively). Both groups showed significantly elevated monocyte levels in the complete blood count (70.4% vs. 69.9%, p = 0.511). Major chest X-ray findings in COVID-19patients included mild diffuse ground glass opacity and right lower lobe infiltrates. There were no statistically significant intergroup differences in hospitalization or mortality rates; however, the intensive care unit admission rate was higher among COVID-19patients (2.4% vs. 0.5%, p = 0.045). Conclusion: In this study, pediatric COVID-19patients showed a wide range of clinical presentations ranging from asymptomatic/mild to severe illness. We found no intergroup differences in hospitalization rates, oxygen requirements, or hospital length of stay; however, the intensive care unit admission rate was higher among COVID-19patients.
Authors: Madeleine W Sumner; Alicia Kanngiesser; Kosar Lotfali-Khani; Nidhi Lodha; Diane Lorenzetti; Anna L Funk; Stephen B Freedman Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2022-06-09 Impact factor: 3.569
Authors: Aaron M Frutos; John Kubale; Guillermina Kuan; Sergio Ojeda; Nivea Vydiswaran; Nery Sanchez; Miguel Plazaola; May Patel; Roger Lopez; Angel Balmaseda; Aubree Gordon Journal: PLOS Glob Public Health Date: 2022-05-25
Authors: Aaron M Frutos; John Kubale; Guillermina Kuan; Sergio Ojeda; Nivea Vydiswaran; Nery Sanchez; Miguel Plazaola; May Patel; Roger Lopez; Angel Balmaseda; Aubree Gordon Journal: medRxiv Date: 2022-02-03