A Comparison of Clinical Findings and Laboratory Test Results Between Hospitalized Children with COVID-19 and Influenza

Abstract

Aim: It can be challenging to distinguish between influenza and coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) during the influenza season. Therefore, we aimed to compare the clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and outcomes of these two diseases in children. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two children with COVID-19 and 22 children with influenza who were hospitalized in our clinic were included in this study. The demographic, clinical, and laboratory findings of these patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: The median age of patients with influenza and COVID-19 was 1.4 and 15.3 years, respectively. Fever (77.3% vs 46.9%, p=0.02), nasal obstruction (27.3% vs 0%, p=0.003), wheezing (54.5% vs 3.1%, p<0.001), bilateral crackling sounds (63.6% vs 15.6%, p<0.001), prolonged expirium (63.6% vs 3.1%, p<0.001), tachycardia (36.4% vs 0%, p<0.001) and tachypnea (54.5% vs 0%, p<0.001) were significantly more frequent in those patients with influenza compared to COVID-19. Patients with influenza had significantly increased leucocyte count, lymphocyte count, and aminotransferase levels and lower albumin levels compared to those patients with COVID-19. In the influenza group, three patients needed intensive care, and one of them died. None of the patients with COVID-19 needed intensive care and there was no death in this group. Conclusion: In hospitalized children, the clinical and laboratory findings were milder in those patients with COVID-19 compared to influenza.