Abstract
Abstract Background Little is known about morbidity of Covid-19 infection in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children with IBD. Methods A prospective, observational cohort study to evaluate morbidity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) among pediatric patients with IBD. The questionnaire included information concerning numbers of vaccine doses, patients’ medication and disease activity. Disease flare was defined by worsening IBD symptoms and change in IBD medications. Results A total of 320 children with IBD, 169 with Crohn’s disease (CD)-52,8%, 150 with ulcerative colitis (UC) - 46,9%, 1 unclassified -0,3%, responded to the questionnaire concerning COVI-19 vaccination. Among the participants 114 (35,6%) patients have suffered from COVID19 (62 CD- 54,4%, 51 UC- 44,7%, 1 unclassified - 0,9%). In 79 cases (69,3%) COVID-19 course was mild, in 31 (27,2%) it was moderate, and 3 (2,6%) children had severe disease. There was no statistically significant difference in morbidity among patients with CD and UC. A total of 127 (39,7%) patients received at least 1 COVID-19 vaccine, and among them 22 (17,3%) children got COVID-19 infection after vaccination. 91 (47.2%) of unvaccinated patients got COVID 19 infection. Following SARS-CoV-2 disease, 22 (19.3%) patients reported exacerbation of IBD during or after COVID 19. In 82 (71.9%) patients COVID-19 infection had no effect on the course of their IBD. Among patients with exacerbation during/after SARS-CoV-2 disease, 3 (13.6%) were vaccinated and 19 (86.4%) of them were not vaccinated. Conclusion Based on the outcomes from our questionnaire concerning COVID-19 vaccination state on the large cohort of pediatric patients with IBD, we conclude that unvaccinated patients get sick more often than vaccinated ones, and there is no difference in the frequency of SARS-CoV-2 infection between children with CD and UC. Also, there is no statistically significant difference in the severity of COVID-19 infection between vaccinated and unvaccinated patients. Vaccination against COVID-19 has no effect on the exacerbation of IBD during/after infection.
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