Clinico-epidemiological characteristics of pediatric COVID-19 patients in Bangladesh

Probir Kumar Sarkar; Kinkar Ghosh; Nabila Akand; M. Kamruzzaman; Shireen Afroz; Maksudur Rahman; Puspanjali Roy; Maleeha Sheefa; Sheikh Wasik Rahman; Al Reza M. Sayeed

doi:10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20221851

Authors

Probir Kumar Sarkar Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Kinkar Ghosh INFS, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Nabila Akand Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
M. Kamruzzaman Department of Pediatric Respiratory Medicine, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Shireen Afroz Department of Pediatric Nephrology, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Maksudur Rahman Department of Neonatology, Dhaka Shishu (Children) Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Puspanjali Roy Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Satkhira Medical College Hospital Directorate General of Health Services, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Maleeha Sheefa World Health Organization, Bangladesh
Sheikh Wasik Rahman Child Health Research Foundation, Bangladesh
Al Reza M. Sayeed Department of Global Health, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18203/2349-3291.ijcp20221851

Keywords:

Children, COVID-19, Pandemic, Neonate, Infants, Clinical manifestations

Abstract

Background: The objective of the study was to delineate the clinico-epidemiological characteristics of pediatric coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) patients.

Methods: This observational study included 290 pediatric patients with a definite diagnosis of COVID-19 admitted to Dhaka Shishu hospital, Bangladesh, from April 2021 to October 2021. Clinical and epidemiological characteristics were analyzed based on demographic data, medical history, laboratory tests, and outcome information. Data analysis was performed with SPSS 26. Ethical measures were taken in compliance with the current declaration of Helsinki, and final analysis was performed using SPSS 26.

Results: Of all, 42 (14.5%) were neonates (<28 days), 88 (30.3%) were infants (28 days to <1 year) and 160 (55.2%) were children (1-17 years). The median age of the children was 18 (0.3-204) months, 58.3% were male, 62% had malnutrition, and presented with various clinical presentations. The main symptoms were fever (5.7%) and breathlessness (20%). Approximately 22% of children were asymptomatic, and 57% had at least one comorbidity. Fever and abdominal pain were predominant presenting symptoms in children compared with neonates and infants (p<0.01 for both), while cough and breathlessness were more frequent in infants (p<0.01 for both). The infants suffered significantly from neutropenia and lymphocytosis than neonates and children (p<0.001 for both). The discharge and death rates were 77.8% with 6.9%. Overall case fatality was higher among neonates than others.

Conclusions: Compared to other pediatric groups, neonatal case fatality was higher, and COVID-19 in neonates, infants, and children has similar epidemiological and clinical manifestations. The findings from this study might help to guide the development of measures to prevent and treat this ongoing global pandemic of these particular age groups.

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