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Clinical and epidemiological features of 36 children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in Zhejiang, China: an observational cohort study.
- Source :
-
Lancet Infectious Diseases . Jun2020, Vol. 20 Issue 6, p689-696. 8p. - Publication Year :
- 2020
-
Abstract
- <bold>Background: </bold>Since December, 2019, an outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread globally. Little is known about the epidemiological and clinical features of paediatric patients with COVID-19.<bold>Methods: </bold>We retrospectively retrieved data for paediatric patients (aged 0-16 years) with confirmed COVID-19 from electronic medical records in three hospitals in Zhejiang, China. We recorded patients' epidemiological and clinical features.<bold>Findings: </bold>From Jan 17 to March 1, 2020, 36 children (mean age 8·3 [SD 3·5] years) were identified to be infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. The route of transmission was by close contact with family members (32 [89%]) or a history of exposure to the epidemic area (12 [33%]); eight (22%) patients had both exposures. 19 (53%) patients had moderate clinical type with pneumonia; 17 (47%) had mild clinical type and either were asymptomatic (ten [28%]) or had acute upper respiratory symptoms (seven [19%]). Common symptoms on admission were fever (13 [36%]) and dry cough (seven [19%]). Of those with fever, four (11%) had a body temperature of 38·5°C or higher, and nine (25%) had a body temperature of 37·5-38·5°C. Typical abnormal laboratory findings were elevated creatine kinase MB (11 [31%]), decreased lymphocytes (11 [31%]), leucopenia (seven [19%]), and elevated procalcitonin (six [17%]). Besides radiographic presentations, variables that were associated significantly with severity of COVID-19 were decreased lymphocytes, elevated body temperature, and high levels of procalcitonin, D-dimer, and creatine kinase MB. All children received interferon alfa by aerosolisation twice a day, 14 (39%) received lopinavir-ritonavir syrup twice a day, and six (17%) needed oxygen inhalation. Mean time in hospital was 14 (SD 3) days. By Feb 28, 2020, all patients were cured.<bold>Interpretation: </bold>Although all paediatric patients in our cohort had mild or moderate type of COVID-19, the large proportion of asymptomatic children indicates the difficulty in identifying paediatric patients who do not have clear epidemiological information, leading to a dangerous situation in community-acquired infections.<bold>Funding: </bold>Ningbo Clinical Research Center for Children's Health and Diseases, Ningbo Reproductive Medicine Centre, and Key Scientific and Technological Innovation Projects of Wenzhou. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Subjects :
- *COVID-19
*JUVENILE diseases
*DISEASE outbreaks
*MEDICAL records
*ELECTRONIC health records
*COMMUNITY-acquired infections
*CORONAVIRUS disease treatment
*VIRAL pneumonia
*RESEARCH
*FEVER
*RESEARCH methodology
*RETROSPECTIVE studies
*EVALUATION research
*MEDICAL cooperation
*COMPARATIVE studies
*COUGH
*EPIDEMICS
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 14733099
- Volume :
- 20
- Issue :
- 6
- Database :
- Academic Search Index
- Journal :
- Lancet Infectious Diseases
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 143461350
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30198-5