Clinical and laboratory profile of children with COVID-19 admitted at a tertiary care hospital in Karnataka, Southern India

Objectives: To assess the clinical characteristics, laboratory parameters and outcomes in paediatric patients with COVID-19.

Method: Case records of all paediatric patients admitted with COVID-19 were included in the study. Data regarding mode of presentation, presence of comorbid conditions, severity of COVID-19 disease, laboratory investigations and management were noted.

Results: A total of 32 children was admitted with COVID-19 infection in our institute. COVID-19 infection was mild in 16 (50%) patients, moderate in 6 (18.8%) and severe in 10 (31.3%). Ages of the children ranged from 6 months to 16 years with a mean age of 10.75 years. Of them 17 (53%) were boys and 15 (47%) were girls. Pre-existing comorbidities were present in 8 (25%) children. Respiratory symptoms were the commonest presenting complaints, being observed in 18 (59%) cases. Atypical presentation of COVID-19 (other than respiratory) was seen in 31% of cases. Presence of undernutrition and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) were associated with severe Covid-19 illness (p<0.05). Eleven (34%) cases required intensive care and mechanical ventilation was required in 2 (6.3%) cases. Out of the 32 cases only 1 patient expired giving a case fatality rate of 3.1%.

Conclusions: Atypical presentation of COVID-19 with varied manifestations involving systems other than respiratory was observed in children as a separate entity from hyper-inflammatory syndrome. Presence of undernutrition and elevated CRP was associated with severe illness.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(3): 503-509