COVID-19 in neonates and infants younger than 6months - a mild viral illness.

Abstract

A surge in pediatric COVID-19 cases was observed during the fifth wave (Omicron) of the COVID-19 pandemic. Little is known about the clinical features and disease course in neonates and young infants. To describe the clinical and laboratory features, disease course and complications of COVID-19 in neonates and infants younger than 6months. A retrospective descriptive study in which data were collected from the electronic medical records of infants younger than 6months, with positive nasal swab tests for COVID-19. Fifty-two infants younger than 6months who tested positive for COVID-19 were admitted to our pediatric ER/department during the omicron wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, between December 2021 and December 2022. Twenty-one percent were discharged from the ER, while the others were hospitalized predominantly for observation or supportive treatment, with an average duration of hospitalization of 1.3 ± 0.7days. No major complications were observed. Conclusion: COVID-19 is a mild viral illness in young healthy infants with no major complications. What is Known: • Pediatric patients generally have a milder clinical presentation of COVID-19 but can also experience more severe symptoms and post-COVID phenomena. • Our knowledge of COVID-19 in neonates and young infants is limited, and guidelines for their diagnosis and management are lacking. What is New: • In neonates and young infants, COVID-19 infection is typically a mild viral illness with no major complications observed in the majority of cases. • Hospitalization may not be necessary for well-appearing infants with COVID-19, as long as their clinical and laboratory evaluations do not raise any concerns.