Abstract
The aim of this study was to identify gastrointestinal (GI) and liver injury presentations in children admitted with COVID-19 infection. In this retrospective study, we studied all children with suspected symptoms of COVID-19, referred to Amirkola Children's Hospital. Clinical manifestations of the digestive and respiratory systems and liver function tests were evaluated for all cases. Eighteen children were studied. The most common clinical symptoms were fever, anorexia, weakness, nausea and vomiting, cough, diarrhea, and abdominal pain, respectively. Also, 5/18 (27.8%) and 7/18 (38.9%) of cases had abnormally high alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), respectively. Additionally, in icteric cases, direct bilirubin was raised. There was no significant relationship between pulmonary lesions and abnormal excess in ALT (P = 0.59) and AST (P = 0.62). The findings showed that there were no severe clinical GI symptoms in children with COVID-19 infection. Besides, children with increased liver enzymes did not have more respiratory involvement than those without a rise in liver enzymes.
Highlights
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are known as a cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) since December 2019 in Wuhan, China.[1,2] It has become pandemic according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report in March 2020
COVID-19 leads to various degrees of liver injury, presenting with abnormal levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin accompanied by slightly elevated bilirubin levels as well as elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels (ALP).[7]
Our result showed that on admission, 12/18 (66.2%) and 14/18 (77.8%) of cases had elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP), respectively, which returned to normal levels in 7/18 (38.9%) and 4/18 (22.2%) children on discharge
Summary
Coronaviruses (CoVs) are known as a cause of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2) since December 2019 in Wuhan, China.[1,2] It has become pandemic according to the World Health Organization (WHO) report in March 2020. COVID-19 can damage any vital organs like lung, heart, liver, neurologic system, kidney and gastrointestinal (GI) tract, but mostly causes respiratory and GI symptoms ranging from the common cold to coagulopathy, multiorgan failure and death.[1,2] The GI symptoms include anorexia, diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, abdominal pain and GI bleeding. A study reported that diarrhea was the most common GI symptom in children and adults, vomiting was more prominent in children.[5,6] COVID-19 leads to various degrees of liver injury, presenting with abnormal levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and albumin accompanied by slightly elevated bilirubin levels as well as elevated gamma-glutamyltransferase and alkaline phosphatase levels (ALP).[7] It is proposed that the virus binding to angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2).
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
