Serological Screening for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 in Type 1 Diabetic Children and Adolescents

Abstract

Abstract Background Diabetes was identified as a risk factor for many infections. In the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, diabetes is one of the leading comorbidities associated with infection severity. Aim of the Work To determine the severity of COVID-19 symptoms in type 1 diabetic children and adolescents. To Determine the effect of SARS-CoV-2 lockdown on glycemic control. Patients and Methods A cross sectional observational study was carried out in Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetology Unit (PADU), Children's Hospital, Ain Shams University between September 2020 and January 2022. The study included 500 randomly selected diabetic children and adolescents. They were tested for Hemoglobin A1C and SARS-CoV-2 IgM and IgG antibody. Results There is a significant relation between myalgia (p = 0.012 ), diarrhea( p = 0.007) and IgM positivity, and a significant relation between diarrhea and both IgG and IgM positivity (p = 0.005). Other symptoms had a non-significant relation with COVID-19 IgM or IgG. All symptoms suggestive of COVID-19 infection that were detected in our patients were not severe. During COVID-19 pandemic, glycemic control deteriorated in our patients as mean HbA1c reached 9.6% as compared to a mean level of 8.8% before COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion Diabetes comorbidity did not increase the severity of COVID-19 symptoms to our patients. Glycemic control as indicated by HbA1c level showed deterioration during lockdown due to impaired access to care.