Clinical Characteristics of Children with COVID-19

Carmen Lok Tung Ho; Peter Oligbu; Olakunle Ojubolamo; Muhammad Pervaiz; Godwin Oligbu; Carmen Lok Tung Ho; Peter Oligbu; Olakunle Ojubolamo; Muhammad Pervaiz; Godwin Oligbu

doi:10.3934/publichealth.2020022

AIMS Public Health

2020, Volume 7, Issue 2: 258-273. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2020022

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Clinical Characteristics of Children with COVID-19

1.
Imperial College School of Medicine, Imperial College London, South Kensington, London SW7 2AZ, United Kingdom
2.
University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Benin City, Nigeria
3.
Department of Medicine, Queens Hospital, Romford, London
4.
Department of Paediatrics, Dumfries and Galloway, NHS Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, United Kingdom
5.
Department of Paediatrics, Dr Gray's Hospital, NHS Grampian, Elgin, Scotland, United Kingdom
6.
Paediatric Infectious Diseases Research Group, Institute for Infection and Immunity, St. George's, University of London, United Kingdom

Received: 30 March 2020 Accepted: 29 April 2020 Published: 06 May 2020

Background In December 2019, the infection caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) led to an outbreak in Wuhan, situated in the Hubei Province of China. Following this, there has been a rapid increase in the number of cases. On 12th March 2020, there were over 100,000 confirmed cases and almost 4,300 deaths worldwide. The clinical profile of children with COVID-19 is unknown due to the few number of cases reported. Currently, available data suggest they may have a milder form of illness.
Methods A review of the literature published from June 2019 to March 2020 was undertaken to evaluate the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of COVID-19 in in children. Data sources included EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, ISI Web of Knowledge and references within identified articles.
Results We identified 303 potential studies, and 295 were excluded for reasons including duplicates, experimental studies and case reports. Eight studies were eligible for inclusion, including a total of 820 paediatric cases of COVID-19. Asymptomatic cases represented 14.3% (n = 117) of the total number of cases identified, and thus the remaining 85.7% (n = 703) experienced symptoms. Fever was the commonest symptom in 53.9% (n = 48) of cases, followed by cough in 39.3% (n = 35) of cases, and rhinorrhoea or pharyngeal congestion in 13.5% (n = 12) of cases. Diarrhoea and sore throats were less common symptoms, 7.9% (n = 7) and 9.0% (n = 8) respectively. Other symptoms, including fatigue, headache and dizziness were rare.
Conclusion Children are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and are more likely to run a milder cause of illness following this infection compared to adults. This outbreak only started 3 months ago, therefore, further population wide studies are needed to validate these findings.
- COVID-19,
- coronavirus,
- infectious disease,
- pandemic,
- 2019-nCoV,
- severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2,
- paediatric,
- children,
- SARS-CoV-2,
- virus
Citation: Carmen Lok Tung Ho, Peter Oligbu, Olakunle Ojubolamo, Muhammad Pervaiz, Godwin Oligbu. Clinical Characteristics of Children with COVID-19[J]. AIMS Public Health, 2020, 7(2): 258-273. doi: 10.3934/publichealth.2020022

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Abstract

Background In December 2019, the infection caused by 2019 novel coronavirus (COVID-19) led to an outbreak in Wuhan, situated in the Hubei Province of China. Following this, there has been a rapid increase in the number of cases. On 12th March 2020, there were over 100,000 confirmed cases and almost 4,300 deaths worldwide. The clinical profile of children with COVID-19 is unknown due to the few number of cases reported. Currently, available data suggest they may have a milder form of illness.

Methods A review of the literature published from June 2019 to March 2020 was undertaken to evaluate the clinical presentation, management and outcomes of COVID-19 in in children. Data sources included EMBASE, MEDLINE, Cochrane library, ISI Web of Knowledge and references within identified articles.

Results We identified 303 potential studies, and 295 were excluded for reasons including duplicates, experimental studies and case reports. Eight studies were eligible for inclusion, including a total of 820 paediatric cases of COVID-19. Asymptomatic cases represented 14.3% (n = 117) of the total number of cases identified, and thus the remaining 85.7% (n = 703) experienced symptoms. Fever was the commonest symptom in 53.9% (n = 48) of cases, followed by cough in 39.3% (n = 35) of cases, and rhinorrhoea or pharyngeal congestion in 13.5% (n = 12) of cases. Diarrhoea and sore throats were less common symptoms, 7.9% (n = 7) and 9.0% (n = 8) respectively. Other symptoms, including fatigue, headache and dizziness were rare.

Conclusion Children are disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and are more likely to run a milder cause of illness following this infection compared to adults. This outbreak only started 3 months ago, therefore, further population wide studies are needed to validate these findings.

Acknowledgments

No acknowledgements to be made.

Author's contributions

C.H. reviewed the literature, analysed the data, was involved in the interpretation of the data and writing the report (including the first draft), co-ordinated the production of the manuscript, had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis and approved the final manuscript as submitted.
G.O. conceptualised and designed the study, was involved in the interpretation of the data and writing the report, co-ordinated the production of the manuscript, had full access to all the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis and approved the final manuscript as submitted. P.O., O.O. and M.P. were involved in writing the report and approved the final manuscript as submitted. All authors approved the final manuscript as submitted and agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

Funding

There was no external funding received for the conduction of this study.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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