Abstract
Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected children differently from adults worldwide. Data on the clinical presentation of the infection in children are limited. We present a detailed account of pediatric inpatients infected with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 virus at our institution during widespread local transmission, aiming to understand disease presentation and outcomes. A retrospective chart review was performed of children, ages 0 to 18 years, with a positive polymerase chain reaction test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 on nasopharyngeal specimens admitted to our hospital over a 4-week period. We present clinical data from 22 patients and highlight the variability of the presentation. In our study, most children presented without respiratory illness or symptoms suggestive of COVID-19; many were identified only because of universal testing. Because children may have variable signs and symptoms of COVID-19 infection, targeted testing may miss some cases.
Copyright © 2020 by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
MeSH terms
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Adolescent
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Age Distribution
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Alanine Transaminase / metabolism
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Aspartate Aminotransferases / metabolism
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Betacoronavirus
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C-Reactive Protein / metabolism
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COVID-19
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COVID-19 Testing
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Child
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Child, Preschool
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Chronic Disease
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Clinical Laboratory Techniques
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Comorbidity
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Coronavirus Infections / diagnosis
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Coronavirus Infections / epidemiology
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Coronavirus Infections / metabolism
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Coronavirus Infections / physiopathology*
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Coronavirus Infections / therapy
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Cough / physiopathology*
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Dyspnea / physiopathology*
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Fatigue / physiopathology*
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Female
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Fever / physiopathology*
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Heart Diseases / epidemiology
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Hospitalization
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Hospitals, Pediatric
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Humans
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Infant
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Infant, Newborn
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Lung Diseases / epidemiology
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Lymphopenia / epidemiology
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Male
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Mass Screening
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Neoplasms / epidemiology
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New York City / epidemiology
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Noninvasive Ventilation
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Pandemics
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Pneumonia, Viral / epidemiology
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Pneumonia, Viral / metabolism
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Pneumonia, Viral / physiopathology*
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Pneumonia, Viral / therapy
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Procalcitonin / metabolism
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Respiration, Artificial
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Retrospective Studies
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SARS-CoV-2
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Seizures / physiopathology*
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Sex Distribution
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United States
Substances
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Procalcitonin
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C-Reactive Protein
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Aspartate Aminotransferases
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Alanine Transaminase