TITLE:
COVID-19 in Children: Experience from a Tertiary Care Hospital in Bangladesh
AUTHORS:
Kamrul Laila, Mujammel Haque, Sutopa Halder Supti, Shahana Akhter Rahman
KEYWORDS:
COVID-19 Infection, Severity, Age Group, Co-Morbid Conditions
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Pediatrics,
Vol.12 No.5,
November
4,
2022
ABSTRACT: Background: Children are generally at low risk of infection and
data on COVID-19 in children are scarce. This study was undertaken to document
data from a tertiary care hospital in Bangladesh on the incidence, presentation
and immediate outcome of COVID-19 in children. Methodology: It was a cross-sectional
study conducted in the fever clinic and the department of Pediatrics,
Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU) over a period of one year
from July 2020 to June 2021. All the RT–PCR positive pediatric cases (1 month
to 18 years) were enrolled. Data were collected by a structured, predesigned
and pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Microsoft Excel
spreadsheet software 2010. Frequency, percentage and chi-square tests were done
for statistical analysis. Result: Among 8203 suspected pediatric COVID-19
cases, 850 (10.36%) was RT PCR positive. The highest
number of RT-PCR positive COVID-19 cases was found in April 2021. More than 63%
of cases were in the age group of 10 to 18 years. Male: female ratio was
0.97:1. Fever was the most common (75.9%) presenting feature followed by
breathing difficulty and chest pain in 9.6% and 7% of patients
respectively. Mild infection group was predominant (56.7%). Among the
symptomatic cases, 16.7% were hospitalized. Oxygen inhalation and
bronchodilators were needed in 75% of hospitalized patients. All the severe and
critical cases were managed in the inpatient department and in pediatric PICU
when indicated. Most of the patients (99.4%) improved with or without any complication.
Four critically ill patients (0.75%) developed multi-organ dysfunction and
expired in PICU. Conclusion: The majority of COVID-19 cases belonged to the older
age group. More than 75% cases were symptomatic. History of contact was present
in 78% cases. More than 99% children recovered with or without sequelae and
0.8% children with pre-existing co-morbidities expired.