Clinical features and characteristics of pediatric patients with COVID-19 infection: Experiences in a Tertiary Taiwan Hospital

Geng Hao Bai, Ping Yi Shih, Shih Yen Chen, Kai Sheng Hsieh, Cheng Che Chou, Po Hao Feng, Shu Sing Kong, Wen Chuan Lin, Meng Che Lu

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients have distinct clinical features in the pediatric groups. However, there is a paucity of research focused on clinical manifestation within pediatric group in Taiwan. This study is to conduct a retrospective study of the clinical features of COVID-19 in Taiwan pediatric patients. A retrospective study was conducted on pediatric patients (Aged ≤ 18 years) in a Northern Taiwan hospital from May 1st, 2021 to June 30th, 2021. Thirty-eight patients were included from emergency room. They were laboratory confirmed COVID-19 through specimens from nasopharyngeal swab by real-time reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Data including RT-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) values, clinical and epidemiological features were collected and analyzed. Thirty-eight patients aged from 7-month to 18-year-old were included. The median age of patients was 15-year-old. The patients had sex ratio of 23 males to 15 females. More than half patients were infected from family members. Asymptomatic patients were 47.37%. In the symptomatic patients, fever (34.21%) was the most predominant symptom. Cough, nasal obstruction and sore throat were also common. Asymptomatic children had significantly higher Ct-values than symptomatic children, and diagnosed patients with Ct-values more than 19 were associated with asymptomatic infection (P =.0084). Ct-values higher than 19 were associated with asymptomatic infection, which may be a predictor of pediatric disease severity. Our results highlight the distinct clinical manifestations and outcomes in pediatric COVID-19 patients. Compared to the adults, pediatric patients aged ≤ 18 years with COVID-19 in Taiwan mainly had mild disease.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)E30157
JournalMedicine (United States)
Volume101
Issue number35
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2 2022

Keywords

  • covid-19
  • pediatrics
  • symptomatic
  • viral load

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Medicine

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