COVID19 in children with cancer in low- and middle-income countries: Experience from a cancer center in Chennai, India

Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2021 Mar;38(2):161-167. doi: 10.1080/08880018.2020.1831113. Epub 2020 Nov 5.

Abstract

Crowded outpatient clinics and common wards in many hospitals in low and middle-income countries predispose children, caregivers, and health care workers to infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). We report on the clinical features and outcomes of 15 children with cancer at our center who tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. Five out of 15 patients were symptomatic, and one patient required intensive care and respiratory support. All the patients in the study have recovered from the SARS-CoV-2 infection without any sequelae and have resumed their cancer treatment.

Keywords: COVID19; SARS-CoV-2; pediatric cancer.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • COVID-19 / economics
  • COVID-19 / epidemiology*
  • COVID-19 / pathology
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Humans
  • India / epidemiology
  • Infant
  • Male
  • Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Neoplasms / virology*
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data
  • Social Class