Gastrointestinal manifestations in children with COVID-19 infection: Retrospective tertiary center experience

ObjectiveThe majority of pediatric severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (COVID-19) cases demonstrate asymptomatic, mild or moderate disease. The main symptoms in children with COVID-19 are respiratory symptoms but some patients develop gastrointestinal symptoms and liver injury. We aim to review gastrointestinal symptoms and liver injury in children with confirmed COVID-19 infection.MethodThis is a retrospective case note review of children with positive COVID-19 nasal Polymerase Chain Reaction aged 0–18 years admitted to a tertiary pediatric hospital from March 1st till June 1st 2020.Results180 children were identified. Mean age was 5 years (Range: 0.01–17), the majority of patients were school aged (30%). Patients were mainly from East Asia 81 (45%) and Arabs 67 (37%). Gastrointestinal symptoms were encountered in 48 (27%) patients and 8 (4%) patients had only Gastrointestinal symptoms with no associated fever or respiratory symptoms. Liver injury was seen in 57 (32%) patients. Patients with fever and cough were more likely to have gastrointestinal symptoms (P =