English

Abstract

Increasing cases of COVID-19 have been reported in children globally. Admission frequency, though, is significantly lower than adults in COVID-19. Recent evidence suggests that children likely have the same or higher viral loads. Our study is retrospective, with the purpose to describe the clinical spectrum of this disease in children and response of treatments, along with its effect in the neonatal period. As very few cases have been encountered with severe disease, and are illustrated in this study, attempting to understand the course of severe illness. Globally and, as compared with adults, fewer cases of COVID-19 have been reported in children (age 0 - 17 years).1,2 Hospitalization rates in children are significantly lower than hospitalization rates in adults with COVID-19, suggesting that children may have a less severe illness from COVID - 19 compared to adults.3,4 Recent evidence suggests that children likely have the same or higher viral loads in their nasopharynx compared with adults,5,6 and those children can spread the virus effectively in households and camp settings.7,8 At our institute, 10 % of the total COVID-19 cases were from the paediatric population. Among the early neonatal period following delivery to a COVID positive mother, most of them were FT deliveries (83 %), with the majority delivered vaginally. In relation to PT cases, all were delivered vaginally including 4 cases of documented intrauterine device (IUD) by induction of labour with a zero transplacental transmission rate. Out of positive cases in the perinatal period, all were presented as necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). In the paediatric age group of 1 month – 17 years, varied symptoms were present. Children having comorbidities contributed to poor prognosis.