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Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College conducts study to asses clinical characteristics among children with COVID-19

UNI Aug 10, 2020

Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College here has conducted a study aiming to assess the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children infected with the coronavirus.

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The study was done in Bharati Vidyapeeth Medical College Hospital Research Centre Pune, by Prof. Dr. Jitendra Oswal, Asso Prof Dr Bhakati Sarangi Department of Pediatrics. Clinical and laboratory profile and outcomes were studied for children (aged 1 month-18 years) presenting between 1 April, 2020 and 20 May, 2020 with positive nasopharyngeal swab for SARSCoV-2 by RT-PCR. A total of 178 children presented to us with suggestive features during the study duration, of which, 153 were negative and 25 were positive for SARS-CoV-2 by RT-PCR.

Another 25 children with a positive RT-PCR were referred from other hospitals. 50 children (56% male) with median age of 6 (2-12) years were included. Majority (82%) of the cases hailed from containment zones in Pune. Majority (56%) were from families belonging to upper lower socioeconomic class. 45 (90%) had positive household contact of COVID, and 33 (66%) had overcrowding at home. 42 having family members with mild illness and three with severe illness.

Travel history to affected area was documented in only one child. 29 (58%) children were asymptomatic while 20 (40%) had mild symptoms. In symptomatic children, fever was the chief complaint in 17 (54%). None of the children had hypoxemia measured by pulse oximetry. Cough and sore throat were the other common symptoms. Only two children had co-morbidities; one child had history of simple febrile seizures, and another had underlying type I diabetes mellitus and had presented with diabetic ketoacidosis. 49 (98%) children had a BCG vaccine scar. Low white blood cell count was seen in 3 (6%) children while high white blood cell count was seen in 13 (26%) children.

Talking to UNI Prof. Dr Sanjay Lalwani, who is also HOD department of Pediatrics and Medical Director of Bharti hospital on August 7, said that High C-reactive protein levels were seen in 15 (30%) children. There was no death. In conclusion, the disease burden appears high in the lower socio-economic group with the majority having a positive household contact. Milder disease pattern in the children is reiterated.

What this study added to world scientific literature, he said that Majority of Indian children with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a mild course of disease during the initial stages of the pandemic. It is the 1st study from India of COVID in Children and published in “Indian Pediatrics” journal.

This news story is picked from a reputed newswire and is minimally edited by M3 India staff. M3 India does not hold any view for or against it.

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