Abstract

LLAQUE-QUIROZ, Patricia et al. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 in a pediatric hospital in Peru. Rev. perú. med. exp. salud publica [online]. 2020, vol.37, n.4, pp.689-693.  Epub Nov 06, 2020. ISSN 1726-4634.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2020.374.6198.

The aim of the study was to describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19. We analyzed the clinical records of inpatients and outpatients of the Instituto Nacional de Salud del Niño San Borja from the period between March and May, 2020. A total of 33 patients were registered, 57.6% were males with a median age of 4.8 years (range: 2 months - 17 years). We found that 81.8% of the children had contact with a positive COVID-19 case, 60.6% had concomitant diseases, 93.9% presented symptoms (mainly fever and cough) and the median incubation period was 7 days. The hemogram and acute-phase reactants were normal in most cases. Chest X-ray was abnormal in 11/16 patients. All patients received supportive treatment; 2 patients required supplemental oxygen. One patient died from complications associated with a terminal phase brain tumor. We report the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 during the first months of the pandemic in Peru.

Keywords : 2019 novel coronavirus; Children; SARS-CoV-2.

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