Epidemiological Characteristics Of Children Research Articles

Congenital Epidermolysis Bullosa Epidemiology among Children of Russian Federation

Background. The prevalence of all types of congenital epidermolysis bullosa (СEB) worldwide is approximately 11 cases per 1 million according to the latest data from the American Epidermolysis Bullosa Registry. Data on the prevalence of СEB in Russian Federation is scattered, while data on life expectancy and mortality for this this disease is absent. This article presents medical and epidemiological data on children with СEB in Russian Federation. Objective. The aim of the study is to analyze clinical and epidemiological features of children with СEB in Russian Federation. Methods. We have performed analysis of the clinical and epidemiological features among pediatric population of Russian Federation with СEB using the “Registers of Genetic and Other Rare Diseases” of the “Butterfly Children” charitable foundation. Results. There are 491 children with СEB in Russian Federation as of 2024 according to the national registry data from “Registers of Genetic and Other Rare Diseases” of the “Butterfly Children” charitable foundation. The ratio of boys and girls was 1.08:1, that is relevant to the global data. The prevalence of CEB in children aged from 0 to 17 years in Russian Federation is 15.48 cases per 1,000,000 children as of January 1, 2024. The highest number of children with CEB were revealed in the Republic of Dagestan — 54 (11%) children, which is apparently due to the high rate of consanguineous marriages (50%). Other regions with high prevalence are Moscow Region (n = 28, 5.7%), Moscow (n = 25, 5.1%), Saint Petersburg (n = 26, 5.2%) and Krasnodar Territory (n = 23, 4.6%). Largest age group of children (from 12 to 18 years) includes 146 patients with mean age of 14.32 ± 1.72 years. The most common form of CEB is dystrophic one — 261 patients, the next one is simplex — 191 patients, then junctional form — 31 patient, and Kindler syndrome — 8 patients. The birth rate of children with CEB by year during the period from 2019 to 2023 (per 100,000 children born): 2019 — 1.42, 2020 — 2.09, 2021 — 2.65, 2022 — 2.76 and 2023 — 1.74. The arithmetic mean birth rate of children with CEB over a five-year period was 2.13 cases per 100,000 children born. The registry contains information on 22 deceased patients, average age was 3.06 ± 4.66 (from 0 to 15 years, median 0.54 years). The highest number of fatal outcomes was observed in the Republic of Dagestan (n = 3). Junctional CBE dominates in fatal outcomes among all the CEB types — 59.1% (n = 13 cases, 0.40 ± 0.22 years). The highest mortality was observed in I age group (from 0 to 1 year), which is 65.2% (15 fatal outcomes). Multisystem organ failure resulting from sepsis was the most common cause of death in both types of CEB (junctional and dystrophic). The mortality trend in the junctional form of CEB shows a decline in mortality, while the dystrophic type shows a stable situation during 2021–2023 years — 2 fatal outcomes per year. Junctional CEB has higher mortality rate at early age: survival curve shows sharp decline in the first months of life indicating high mortality in early life. The probability of survival drops to almost 0% in the first 100 days. Higher survival rate is more specific for the dystrophic type of CEB. Conclusion. This study demonstrates the significance and necessity to create and maintain registers for rare (orphan) diseases. Registry maintenance is an effective model for real understanding of the number of patients and value of needed assistance from the government to this category of patients.

Recognizing red flags for alternative diagnoses in pediatric chorea beyond Sydenham's

BackgroundChorea is a common movement disorder in children, requiring thorough clinical assessment and appropriate tests for etiological diagnosis. Early identification of treatable conditions can lead to effective treatment, reducing morbidity and improving quality of life. ObjectiveTo describe the clinical, demographic, and epidemiological characteristics of children and adolescents diagnosed with chorea. MethodsA retrospective cross-sectional study of pediatric patients treated in a fourth-level hospital in Bogotá, Colombia, from January 2008 to January 2022. Results81 patients with chorea were found. The most frequent etiologies were rheumatic fever (50.6 %), vascular chorea (29.3 %), and chorea secondary to lupus (11.1 %). Patients with chorea secondary to rheumatic fever (Sydenham's chorea) were older compared to other etiologies, 10.36 ± 3.41 years vs 8.29 ± 5.16, p = 0.037. The presence of another movement disorder or abnormalities during the physical examination suggests a different etiology from rheumatic fever. Moreover, the presence of psychiatric symptoms was similar in all etiologies. However, a correlation between age and psychiatric symptoms was observed with an odds ratio of 1.14 95 % CI 1.02–1.29 per year. ConclusionsRed flags in Sydenham's chorea suggesting an alternate etiology are younger age, the presence of other abnormal movements or other findings in the neurological exam or in the magnetic resonance imaging. No significant statistical differences were found between the etiologies with the presence of neuro-psychiatric manifestations. Nevertheless, these manifestations are very frequent in abnormal movements. This study evidenced the positive correlation between age and the presence of psychiatric symptoms.

Clinical characteristics and prognosis of 227 children with acute pancreatitis

To analyze the clinical characteristics and prognosis of acute pancreatitis (AP) in children, and provide reference for clinical prevention and treatment of AP in children. Based on the electronic medical record system of the Affiliated Hospital of Zunyi Medical University, the clinical data of children with AP in the hospital from January 2011 to December 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. According to the severity of the disease, the children were divided into mild acute pancreatitis (MAP) group and severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) group. The general data, laboratory tests and outcomes indicators of the two groups were collected and compared. The epidemiological characteristics of children with AP were analyzed. Multivariate Logistic regression was used to analyze the risk factors of SAP in children. A total of 227 children with AP were enrolled, including 161 in MAP group and 66 in SAP group. The median age of children with AP was 12.00 (8.00, 16.00) years old, and 126 cases (55.51%) were male. The main initial clinical symptoms were abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and abdominal distension (97.36%, 61.67% and 14.10%, respectively), 21 cases (9.25%) were admitted to intensive care unit (ICU), and 4 cases (1.76%) died in hospital due to sepsis, multiple organ dysfunction or traumatic shock. The epidemiological characteristics showed that the first onset age of AP was mainly 7-17 years old (85.02%); the main etiologies were biliary tract disease (29.96%), viral infection (29.07%) and idiopathic factors (19.82%). From 2011 to 2020, the number of children with AP showed a fluctuating trend, and from 2018 to 2020, the number of children with AP increased for three consecutive years. Compared with MAP group, the age of SAP group was significantly older, the proportion of female, the proportion of rural source, acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II (APACHE II), body mass index (BMI), and the levels of white blood cell count (WBC), C-reactive protein (CRP), hospitalization expenses, the proportion of AP caused by traumatic factors and drug factors in SAP group were significantly higher (all P < 0.05). The level of blood calcium and the proportion of AP caused by virus infection were significantly lower, and the length of hospital stay in SAP group was significantly longer (all P < 0.05). The multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that APACHE II score [odds ratio (OR) = 1.495, 95% confidence interval (95%CI) was 1.293-1.728] and age (OR = 1.352, 95%CI was 1.182-1.546) were closely related to SAP in children (all P < 0.001). Children with AP mostly occurs in preschool and adolescence, and the overall mortality is relatively low; biliary tract disease, viral infection and idiopathic factors are common causes; APACHE II score and age may be risk factors for SAP in children.

Epidemiological characteristics, treatment, and outcomes of 586 cases of intussusception: a 4-year retrospective study in China.

This study aims to retrospectively analyze the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of acute intussusception in a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in China over 4 years and evaluate the effectiveness and recurrence of fluoroscopy-guided pneumatic reduction (FGPR) and ultrasound-guided hydrostatic reduction (UGHR). This retrospective study was conducted from January 2019 to December 2022 involving children admitted and managed for acute intussusception in a tertiary-care pediatric hospital in China. The epidemiology, clinical features, and therapeutic effects were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics 20.0. The study included 401 boys (68.43%) and 185 girls (31.57%) aged from 2 months to 12 years. The most common symptoms reported were abdominal pain or paroxysmal crying (95.73%), vomiting (45.39%), and bloody stool (7.34%). Vomiting and bloody stool became atypical with increasing age (P < 0.001). The total success cases of reduction accounted for 563 cases (96.08%), and the recurrent cases accounted for 71 cases (12.12%). No significant difference was observed in the success or recurrence rates between FGPR and UGHR (P > 0.05). Abdominal pain was an independent protective factor for successful enema (P < 0.01, OR = 72.46), while bloody stool (P < 0.01, OR = 0.06) and older age were independent risk factors (P < 0.001, OR = 0.51). Of the 71 patients with recurrent intussusception, 29 were successfully reduced by enema, and the other 23 required surgical reduction. Twelve of the surgical cases were secondary intussusception, including three cases of Meckel's diverticulum, five cases of polyps, and four cases of non-Hodgkin lymphoma. The epidemiological characteristics of children with intussusception in Xiamen showed peculiarity with a higher male-to-female ratio, older age at diagnosis, and no significant seasonality. Both FGPR and UGHR were effective and safe for intussusception, and surgical reduction was essential for patients with failed enema reduction.

Diagnostic status and epidemiological characteristics of community-acquired bacterial meningitis in children from 2019 to 2020: a multicenter retrospective study

SummaryCommunity-acquired bacterial meningitis (CABM) is the main cause of morbidity and mortality in children. The epidemiology of CABM is regional and highly dynamic. To clarify the diagnostic status and epidemiological characteristics of children with CABM in this region, and pay attention to the disease burden, so as to provide evidence for the prevention and treatment of CABM. By retrospective case analysis, the clinical data of 918 CABM cases in children aged 0–14 years in Zhejiang Province from January, 2019 to December, 2020 were collected. The etiological diagnosis rate of CABM in children was 23.1%, the annual incidence rate 4.42–6.15/100,000, the annual mortality rate 0.06–0.09/100,000,the cure and improvement rate 94.4%, and the case fatality rate 1.4%. The total incidence of neuroimaging abnormalities was 20.6%. The median length of stay for CABM children was 20(16) days, with an average cost of 21,531(24,835) yuan. In addition, the incidence rate was decreased with age. Escherichia coli(E.coli) and group B Streptococcus agalactiae(GBS) were the principal pathogens in CABM infant<3 months(43.3%, 34.1%), and Streptococcus pneumoniae(S. pneumoniae) was the most common pathogen in children ≥ 3 months(33.9%). In conclusion, the annual incidence and mortality of CABM in children aged 0–14 years in Zhejiang Province are at intermediate and low level. The distribution of CABM incidence and pathogen spectrum are different in age; the incidence of abnormal neuroimaging is high; and the economic burden is heavy.

Increased Incidence of Rhinovirus Pneumonia in Children During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Mexico.

Background: Human rhinovirus (HRV), traditionally recognized as the primary etiological agent of the common cold, has become the second most important viral agent in bronchopulmonary conditions, such as pneumonia and asthma exacerbations. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several viruses exhibited changes in their epidemiological behavior. This study aims to evaluate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with HRV pneumonia before and during the pandemic in Mexico. Methods: A comparative ambispective longitudinal epidemiological study of two cohorts (prepandemic and pandemic periods) was carried out. Two databases were compared: one from 2010 to 2013 and the other from 2021 to 2023. Children under 5 years of age diagnosed with HRV pneumonia were included. Student's t-test, χ 2 tests, and logistic regression were used to assess risk factors associated with severe pneumonia. Incidence density was calculated as HRV cases per 10 new cases of pneumonia per month for each year. Results: During the pandemic, the age of presentation shifted from 5 months to 16 months. There was a higher incidence of HRV pneumonia in children during the pandemic, particularly in the second half of 2021, with a peak in July and August. In addition, there was an increase in severity (53% vs. 63%, p=0.006) and coinfections (51.3% vs. 76% p < 0.001). A higher prevalence of all risk factors was observed in the second cohort. Conclusions: During the pandemic, a shift toward older age, a higher percentage of coinfections, and increased severity associated to HRV pneumonia were observed. These findings highlight the need for the development and implementation of targeted prevention and treatment measures for HRV.

Natural course of acute COVID-19 among healthy children in a tertiary hospital.

Previous studies have reported the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in a cross-sectional fashion; however, the natural course of each symptom based on a daily basis during the acute phase has not yet been clarified. This retrospective study aimed to describe the natural course of COVID-19 in children according to dominant variants. We conducted our study on symptomatic children with COVID-19 who were hospitalized at the National Center for Child Health and Development, in Japan. We excluded patients who were observed for less than 9 days and those with underlying disease, COVID-19 vaccination, coinfection, complications, or therapeutic intervention. We collected the data on each participant's age at admission, sex, medical history, observation period, hospitalization period, SARS-CoV-2 test results, and 10 daily symptoms in the first 9 days from the illness onset. Eventually, 115 children were included in this study. The prevalence of fever during the omicron era declined more rapidly over time than that during the pre-omicron era. The prevalence of cough and rhinorrhea did not decline during the observation period, and these clinical manifestations were more common during the pre-omicron era at any point. The prevalence of dysgeusia and/or dysosmia steadily increased over time in the pre-omicron era. This study demonstrated that the prevalence of some symptoms differed not only at the onset but also over time during the acute phase. Details of the natural clinical course of children with COVID-19 help primary care physicians to manage these patients.

Health And Child Development Risk Conditions: An Analysis Of High Risk Children In A Specialized Care Outpatient Clinic

Objective: To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children seen at a high-risk outpatient clinic, report the reasons for referral to the service, the outcomes, and elucidate the importance of specialized care for children at risk provided by public health in Brazil. Method: A descriptive, quantitative, cross-sectional retrospective study that identified the clinical-epidemiological characteristics of children under 12 months of age who started care between January/2017 and December/2018 in a specialized outpatient clinic for high-risk children. Data were collected from electronic medical records and analyzed using Microsoft Excel 2013, while for statistical tests of association, calculation of the odds ratio and confidence interval (95%) the software RStudio (1.4.1103) was used. Results: Of the 246 children seen, 53.66% were male, 76.42% Caucasian, 33.62% premature, 54.73% had low/insufficient weight. At the first consultation 79.67% were less than six months old and 58.54% were eutrophic. The main reasons for referral were prematurity (26.89%), suspected congenital infection (15.53%) and nutritional/gastrointestinal disorders (14.77%). Syphilis stood out among congenital infections with 63.41%. As for the outcome, 62.28% were lost to follow-up, and the use of breast milk was a protective factor for this outcome (OR:0.49; CI:0.26-0.92; p=0.03). Conclusions: The reasons for referral to the high-risk outpatient clinic, evidenced in this study, point to the importance of preventing prematurity, controlling congenital infections, and actions to strengthen the practice of breastfeeding in children under 6 months of age, since it has proven to be a protective factor against loss to follow-up in specialized services.

Non-typhoidal Salmonella bacteremia: comparison of adults and children in a single medical center.

Introduction. Non-typhoidal Salmonella (NTS) bacteremia can cause significant morbidity and mortality. There is high incidence of Salmonellosis in the Middle East, including Israel, but there is a paucity of data on the clinical and epidemiological features of children in comparison to adults.Hypothesis/Gap Statement. Previous studies describing the differences between paediatric and adult populations with Salmonella bacteremia are sparse.Aim. This study's aim was to describe the differences between adults and children with NTS bacteremia.Methodology. All records of patients with NTS bacteremia between 1 January 1998 and 31 July 2020 were reviewed. Data regarding clinical manifestations and laboratory results were extracted from the medical records; records of children (aged <18 years) were compared with those of adults.Results. Records for 137 cases of Salmonella bacteremia (69 adults and 68 children, aged 2 days to 98 years) were reviewed. Seventy nine (58 %) patients had concomitant gastrointestinal symptoms. Fifty-eight (84 %) adults and 13 (19 %) children had underlying conditions (P<0.001). Eighteen patients died, none of whom was a child. Over the study period, most of the children (n=46, 67 %) but only five adults were discharged from the emergency department on their first visit to the ED.Conclusions. The main characteristics of NTS bacteremia in children compared to adults, are higher rates of prior discharge from emergency department, higher rate of gastrointestinal symptoms and better prognosis.

Epidemiologic Characteristics of Children with Diabetic Ketoacidosis Treated in a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit in a 10-Year-Period: Single Centre Experience in Croatia.

Background and Objectives: The incidence of severe and moderate forms of DKA as the initial presentation of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D) is increasing, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. This poses a higher risk of developing cerebral edema as a complication of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), as well as morbidity and mortality rates. The aim of this study was to determine the trend and clinical features of children treated in the last 10 years in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) due to the development of DKA. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study was performed in the PICU, Clinical Hospital Centre Rijeka, in Croatia. All children diagnosed with DKA from 2011–2020 were included in this study. Data were received from hospital medical documentation and patient paper history. The number of new cases and severity of DKA were identified and classified using recent International Society for Pediatric and Adolescent Diabetes (ISPAD) guidelines. Results: In this investigation period, 194 children with newly diagnosed T1D were admitted to our hospital: 58 of them were treated in the PICU due to DKA; 48 had newly diagnosed T1D (48/58); and ten previously diagnosed T1D (10/58). DKA as the initial presentation of T1D was diagnosed in 24.7% (48/194). Moderate or severe dehydration was present in 76% of the children at hospital admission. Polyuria, polydipsia, and Kussmaul breathing were the most common signs. Three patients (5.2%) developed cerebral edema, of whom one died. Conclusions: During the investigation period a rising trend in T1D was noted, especially in 2020. About one quarter of children with T1D presented with DKA at initial diagnosis in western Croatia, most of them with a severe form. Good education of the general population, along with the patients and families of children with diabetes, is crucial to prevent the development of DKA and thus reduce severe complications.

Multisystemic Inflammatory Syndrome in Children From the South of Colombia: One Year of Experience.

BackgroundMultisystemic inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) is one of the most severe presentations of COVID-19 infection in pediatrics. Currently, we have few studies that describe the characteristics of this condition in Colombian children.ObjectiveTo describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children hospitalized with MIS-C in Neiva, Colombia.MethodsObservational follow-up study of a cohort of children with MIS-C for 12 months (May 15, 2020, to May 30, 2021) in two hospitals in the city of Neiva. Epidemiological data, clinical characteristics, laboratory characteristics, cardiological evaluation, treatment, and clinical outcomes were analyzed.ResultsWe included 34 patients who met the diagnosis of MIS-C. The median age was 68 months. Some type of nutritional issue was observed by 43.75% of those under 5 years of age and by 27.78% of those over 5 years of age. Gastrointestinal symptoms were the most frequent, with vomiting, diarrhea, and abdominal pain being the most frequent by 79, 70, and 67%, respectively. By 77% of the patients, a history of SARS-COV-2 infection was documented through IgG. In the echocardiogram, 35.4% of the patients had systolic dysfunction, followed by coronary involvement by 35%.ConclusionThis study describes a series of cases of children with MIS-C in Colombia. Gastrointestinal manifestations were predominant. Mortality was high in comparison to other countries but similar to that reported in Colombia. This fact was associated with relevant pathological background. More training is required for physicians in order to have a better understanding of the disease so as to have an early diagnosis and timely treatment.

Epidemiological Characteristics and Transmission Patterns of COVID-19 Cases Among Children and Adolescents Aged 0-18 Years in South Korea.

BackgroundIn South Korea, the epidemiological characteristics of children and adolescents infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) have not been reported to date. The purpose of this study was to identify major epidemiological characteristics and transmission patterns of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children and adolescents.MethodsThis study was conducted through a system integrated in an epidemiological investigation by the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency from January 20, 2020, to June 5, 2021. We analyzed the epidemiological characteristics of 14,967 children and adolescents with COVID-19 according to the age groups and transmission age patterns of 3721 infector-infectee pairs in South Korea.ResultsAmong the total confirmed COVID-19 cases, 14,967 patients were aged 0–18 years. The most affected age group among children and adolescents were those aged 16–18 years (3589, 24.0%). For all age groups, the infection route through friends and family members (31.9%) was the highest. For the contact age pattern analysis, infection from infectors aged 30–49 years to infectees aged 0–12 years showed a statistically significant relation (p <0.001) compared to that in other age groups. On the other hand, among the infectees aged 13–15 years and 16–18 years were significantly related with adolescents aged 10–19 years (p <0.05).ConclusionThese results suggest that adolescents aged 13–18 years were more infected with COVID-19 than those aged 0–12 years. Furthermore, they are particularly more likely to be infected by friends and family members. Besides, in patients aged 13–18 years, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 was more common from adolescents to adolescents than from adults to adolescents. This research will provide scientific evidence for school policies and vaccine strategies for COVID-19 prevention in children and adolescents.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 in Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia

ObjectivesTo describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in the state of Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia in the setting of mandatory hospital isolation and quarantine for all confirmed cases. MethodsA multi-centre, retrospective observational study was performed among children aged ≤12 years with laboratory-proven COVID-19 between 1 February and 31 December 2020. ResultsIn total, 261 children (48.7% males, 51.3% females) were included in this study. The median age was 6 years [interquartile range (IQR) 3–10 years]. One hundred and fifty-one children (57.9%) were asymptomatic on presentation. Among the symptomatic cases, fever was the most common presenting symptom. Two hundred and forty-one (92.3%) cases were close contacts of infected household or extended family members. Twenty-one (8.4%) cases had abnormal radiological findings. All cases were discharged alive without requiring supplemental oxygen therapy or any specific treatment during hospitalization. The median duration of hospitalization was 7 days (IQR 6–10 days). One (2.1%) of the uninfected guardians accompanying a child in quarantine tested positive for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) upon discharge. ConclusionsCOVID-19 in children was associated with mild symptoms and a good prognosis. Familial clustering was an important epidemiologic feature in the outbreak in Negeri Sembilan. The risk of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 from children to guardians in hospital isolation was minimal despite close proximity.

Epidemiology and clinical characteristics of childhood TB identified using active and passive case finding.

BACKGROUND: Childhood TB cases can be found using passive case finding (PCF), i.e., by diagnosing children presenting with symptoms, or using active case finding (ACF), i.e., by identifying children with TB through contact tracing. Our study determined epidemiologic, clinical, and radiographic differences between these groups.DESIGN/METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of children aged 0-19 years diagnosed with TB from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2019 at a U.S. TB clinic, comparing clinical, radiographic, microbiologic, and epidemiological characteristics of children identified using PCF and ACF.RESULTS: Of 178 eligible patients, 99 (55.6%) were diagnosed using PCF. Children identified using PCF were older (mean 8.9 vs. 6.1 years, P = 0.003), more often non-US-born (OR 2.29, 95% CI 1.12-4.67), had more extrapulmonary disease (44.4% vs. 3.8%, OR 20.27, 95% CI 5.98-68.64) and severe intrathoracic findings (39.4% vs. 10.1%, OR 5.77, 95% CI 2.50-13.29). Children identified using ACF were often asymptomatic, had isolated hilar/mediastinal adenopathy, but had more availability of drug susceptibility data from a link to a source case.CONCLUSION: Children identified using PCF had more severe manifestations, while those identified using ACF had greater availability of drug susceptibility data. Clinicians should be aware that clinical and radiographic presentations in children identified using PCF and those identified using ACF differ, and that the latter may be eligible for shorter treatment regimens.

CLINICAL AND EPIDEMIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN WITH PCR-CONFIRMED COVID-19 IN VOLGOGRAD REGION, Russia

The paper identifies for the first time for the Volgograd region (Russia) the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children 0-16 years old with the laboratory confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 hospitalized in a children’s infectious clinic in April-August 2020. The Volgograd Region is one of the biggest territorial entities in Southern Russia; therefore our first published analytical data needs to be compared with relevant Russian/ European data. The diagnosis was verified by the nucleic acid amplification: isolation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the upper respiratory tract mucosa. The study did not include outpatients. Rarity of such symptoms as headache and weakness (7.1%), as well as dysosmia (4.1%) in the complete absence of dysgeusia attracted our attention. In none of the patients we were able to identify an exanthem over the course of infection.

Retrospective analysis of bacterial culture-confirmed pertussis cases in Beijing Children’s hospital from 2014 to 2019 reveals prevention and control of the grim situation in mainland China

ABSTRACT Background Our study aims to explore the epidemiological features of children with bacterial culture-confirmed pertussis visiting Beijing Children’s Hospital, China. Methods From 2014 through 2019, patients with suspected pertussis coming from mainland China provided nasopharyngeal swabs and bacterial culture that was subsequently cultivated. Results During the study period, 6956 children with suspected pertussis from 30 different administrative provinces of mainland China were investigated, of which 1494 cases (21.5%) had positive B. pertussis culture. The number of pertussis cases increased year-on-year, from 122 in 2014 to 279 in 2019. Of the confirmed cases, 38.2% and 26.8% were identified in the summer and autumn, respectively. The age distribution of children with pertussis showed that 77.2% were <12 months old, including 56.0% <6 months old. Only thirteen B. parapertussis isolates and one B. bronchiseptica isolates were collected in the present samples. Conclusions The present culture-confirmed cases reveal the severe epidemic situation of pertussis spreading over the whole country and mainly affecting the infants. It is necessary to set up hospital-based surveillance with reliable laboratory methods to promote clinical awareness and to monitor the disease.

Clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection: a case series in Sinaloa.

The SARS-CoV-2 virus may affect both adults and children. Although COVID-19 has a lower prevalence in infancy and has been described as mild, the clinical characteristics may vary, and there is a possibility of complications. The objectives of this study were to describe the clinical and epidemiological aspects of confirmed COVID-19 pediatric cases in the state of Sinaloa, Mexico, during the first 3 months of the pandemic, and children admitted with COVID-19 to a secondary hospital. This case series includes all patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection confirmed by PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, identified in the state epidemiological surveillance system (SISVER) between March 1 and May 31, 2020. Confirmed patients admitted to the Sinaloa Pediatric Hospital (HPS) in the same period are also described. Fifty-one children with SARS-CoV-2 were included, of which ten were admitted to the HPS. The median age was 10 years. The more frequent symptoms were fever (78%), cough (67%), and headache (57%). Most cases were mild or asymptomatic. Three patients with comorbidities died. Only four of ten patients identified in HPS were admitted with the diagnosis of possible COVID-19. SARS-CoV-2 infection in children was mostly mild or asymptomatic, and the clinical presentation varied. There is a possibility of complications, especially in children with comorbidities.

THE PRIMARY CHARACTERISTICS OF CHILDREN WITH PCR-CONFIRMED COVID-19 IN VOLGOGRAD REGION

The article presents clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children 0-16 years old with a laboratory confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19, hospitalized in the state children's infectious clinic in April-August 2020. The diagnosis was verified by nucleic acid amplification: isolation of SARS-CoV-2 RNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) from the upper respiratory tract mucosa. The study did not include non-hospitalized patients. The authors highlight some features of the clinical symptoms of the nosology in question in childhood, and show the compliance of therapeutic and diagnostic techniques used in inpatient treatment with the requirements of regulatory documents.

Epidemiological characteristics of children with coronavirus at a joint commission-accredited hospital in the United Arab Emirates.

Objectives:Our aim was to identify the epidemiological characteristics and transmission patterns of coronavirus (COVID-19) among pediatric patients in the multicultural and multiethnic city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).Method:A retrospective study was conducted by abstracting data from the electronic medical records of pediatric patients with COVID-19 from two major public hospitals in Al Ain. The data of patients from birth through 16 years of the cases with COVID-19 confirmed by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction were obtained. In addition to the epidemiological characteristics, transmission patterns, comorbidities, index cases, travel history, and coinfection with other viruses were analyzed. Cohen's kappa was used to assess interrater reliability and descriptive data. Chi-square test was used to assess significant differences between the variables and was conducted using Statistical Product and Service Solutions software.Results:We identified 298 (150 males, 148 females) laboratory-confirmed cases. The patients’ median age was 7 years. Of these, 50% had parents who also tested positive. Most patients (86.9%) were healthy without any known medical problems. The coinfection rate was ~2%.Conclusion:The epidemiological characteristics of children with COVID-19 in Al Ain are similar to those observed internationally. Children of all ages appeared to be susceptible to COVID-19 and no significant sex or ethnicity differences were detected. Furthermore, this study provides strong evidence of human-to-human transmission.

Clinical and Epidemiological Determinants of Lower Respiratory Tract Infections in Hospitalized Pediatric Patients.

Background Lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI) is the main cause of pediatric mortality and morbidity in low- and middle-income countries. Purpose This study was carried out to determine the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of children with LRTI. Method A retrospective study was conducted on all pediatric patients who were hospitalized due to LRTI in Abuzar Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) during one year. Incomplete medical records and children who were treated on an outpatient basis, as well as infants younger than 1 month of age, were excluded. The patients were evaluated in terms of epidemiological, clinical, and paraclinical characteristics. Results A total of 303 hospitalized children and infants were identified. Their mean age was 29.09 ± 38.96 months (range 1 month-15 years), and 59.4% of them were males. The highest frequency of patients was at the age below one year (50.8%, n = 154). Pneumonia and bronchitis were the most common LRTIs. Respiratory (54.6%) and neurological (21.6%) diseases were the most prevalent underlying medical conditions. Admission was more common in winter (n = 120, 39.6%) and spring (n = 79, 26.1%). The mean length of stay (LOS) in the hospital was 8.2 ± 5.5 days, and the overall mortality rate was 11.6%. In addition, 65 patients were severely underweight and 271 patients were malnourished. Moreover, there was a significant association between mortality and disease diagnosis (p < 0.05). Furthermore, there was a significant association between having an underlying disease and consanguineous parents (p < 0.01), as well as the frequency of hospitalization (p < 0.001). Conclusion Additional studies are required to determine factors contributing to disease severity among children with LRTI to develop appropriate preventive and therapeutic strategies.