A Descriptive Study on Children with COVID-19 Admitted at the Isolation Unit of Assiut University Children's Hospital

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Pediatric Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, Egypt.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 predominantly affected adults but also led to severe cases in children, including multisystem inflammatory syndrome (MIS-C).
Aims: This study analyzed the demographic, clinical, and laboratory factors associated with severe outcomes in pediatric COVID-19 patients.
Methods: A retrospective descriptive study was conducted between January 1st, 2021, and December 31st, 2022, at Assiut University Children's Hospital. The study involved 157 children (≤ 18 years) with RT-PCR-confirmed COVID-19. Of these, 78 had complete clinical data, which were analyzed to identify factors influencing survival.
Results: The cohort's mean age was 7.2 ± 5.27 years, with school-aged children (29.9%) most affected. The mortality rate was 22.9%. Non-survivors (n=27) had higher rates of comorbidities, including interstitial lung disease, chronic liver disease, and malnutrition. They also exhibited more severe clinical manifestations, such as cyanosis, altered consciousness, and anuria, along with higher rates of severe respiratory distress, elevated inflammatory markers, and multi-organ dysfunction. Radiological findings showed a greater prevalence of CO-RADS 5 in non-survivors, indicating more severe lung involvement.
Conclusion: Pediatric COVID-19 outcomes were influenced by age, comorbidities, and clinical severity. Infants, children with pre-existing comorbidities, and those with severe respiratory distress or multi-organ dysfunction faced higher risks of poor outcomes. Early identification and management of high-risk patients are crucial to improving survival rates.

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