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Clinical features and short-term outcome of COVID-19 in pediatric patients in a tertiary care hospital of central india: a cross-sectional study

S. Agrawal, Shreya Shrivastava, Sunil Kasundriya, Ashis Pathak

Asian Journal of Pharmaceutical and Clinical Research, 2024

19 participants

Abstract

Objectives: To fill the knowledge gap and make a clinical profile (frequency, clinical features and outcome) of COVID-19 paediatric patients attending the tertiary care hospital of central India.

Methodology: This cross-sectional study was carried out in Department of Paediatrics, R.D Gardi Medical College, Ujjain, M.P among 88 age group of 0-18 years admitted consented COVID-19 positive pediatric patients over a period of one year (March 2021 to April 2022).

Results: Fever was the most common (76%) complaint, followed by fatigue/ malaise (52%), dry cough and runny nose (45%). Fever stayed for the longest duration (2.80±2.30 days), followed by loss of smell (1.97±2.43 days). Skin rashes stayed for the least duration (0.09±0.39 days). Stunting was observed in 28% participants. Hospital acquired pneumonia was seen in many (26%), along with liver dysfunction in 19%, ARDS in 18%, meningitis/ encephalitis in 16%, MIS-C in 8% and septic shock in 7%. Most of the study participants (49%) had received Azithromycin; while Ivermectin was given to very few participants (16%). Mean duration of stay in hospital was observed to be 9.01±7.95 days. COVID-19 severely hampered the vulnerable section of the society, i.e., the children.

Conclusion: The prevalence was found to be more in females, and increased with advancing age. Overcrowding and under nutrition favoured its spread. Children presented with variable complications, as well.

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a cross-sectional, done in people. Its evidence level is 4 of 5 (Low · observational). Observational designs can show an association but not prove cause. Reported size: 19 participants or records.

How the five levels of evidence work. The level is assigned automatically from the abstract and can be wrong, so check the paper.

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