Evaluation of childhood hospitalization rates and degree of severity of SARS-CoV-2 variants, including B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.315/P.1 (Beta/Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta).

Abstract

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 is reappearing with an increasing number of variants every day; this study aimed to determine the effect of B.1.1.7 (Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta) variants on hospitalization rates. This single‐center study was conducted at the University of Health Sciences Dr. Behçet Uz Children's Hospital from March 11 to August 27, 2021. Variant analyses of symptomatic patients admitted to the hospital who were found to be positive for COVID 19 PCR was performed. Out of 680 cases, 329 (48.4%) were B.1.1.7 variant, 17 (2.5%) were B.1.351/P.1 variant, and 165 (24.2%) were B.1.617.2 variant. One hundred and sixty‐nine (24.9%) case variant analysis results were negative. The hospitalization rate of patients with the B.1.617.2 variant was 19.4%, the B.1.351/P.1 variant was 18%, the B.1.1.7 variant was 9.4%, and the negative variant was 10.1%. The B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, which has become widespread all over the world recently, increases the rate of hospitalization in children.