TITLE:
Inaugural Seizures Revealing COVID-19 in an Immunocompetent Infant at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) of Bouaké
AUTHORS:
Djakaridja Kone, Iburaima Alamun Akanji, Martine Tatiana Yapo, Kokora Junior Gawa, Juliette Kadiane-Oussou, Leioh Romeo Adou, Jean Marie Karidioula, Yapo Thomas Aba, Kouadio Vincent Asse, Ouffoue Kra
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19, Children, Atypical Manifestations, SARS-CoV-2, Bouaké
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.12 No.4,
September
21,
2022
ABSTRACT: Introduction: Children are likely to present with atypical
and non-specific clinical manifestations of COVID-19, unlike adults. The aim of this observation is to
identify the difficulties related to the diagnosis and the curative and
preventive management of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children. Observation: This is a 15-month-old infant
admitted for febrile seizures. The interrogation revealed signs evolving 48
hours before his admission marked by post-prandial vomiting, wet cough,
hypotonia, food refusal, incessant crying, fever, and
seizures. His antecedents can be summed up as an uneventful pre- and per-natal period, good eating habits, good psychomotor and staturo-ponderal
development, and outdated vaccination. The physical and paraclinical
examination made it possible to retain the
diagnosis of severe pneumonia. The initial management consisted of oxygenation,
hydroelectrolyte intake, antibiotic therapy, and
neurosedation. The evolution 3 days later was marked by a worsening of the clinical features, and the
hypothesis of infection with SARS-CoV-2 was
raised. The nasopharyngeal swab for COVID-19 RT-PCR performed was positive. The
infant was isolated in the intensive care unit, where he received oxygen therapy with a mask, enteral nutrition, antibiotic therapy,
corticosteroid therapy, and adequate nursing. The
evolution was favorable 48 hours later. In addition,
his asymptomatic mother and 14-year-old brother were placed in isolation
after a positive RT-PCR COVID-19 test. Her father who was very often away from
home for professional reasons was negative for COVID-19 RT-PCR. They all four live in the same 3-room house. Conclusion: Childhood COVID-19 has many facets. Clinicians should think about it in the face
of any infectious manifestation, in order to avoid delays in treatment and
improve the prognosis.