Children, comorbidities and COVID-19 - What tilts the balance?

Authors

  • Umesh Shukla Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India
  • Nita Radhakrishnan Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7941-5641
  • Bhanu Kiran Bhakhri Associate Professor, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India
  • Ravi Shankar IAP Fellow, Department of Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India
  • Sohini Ghosh Senior Resident, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India
  • Vikas Jain Assistant Professor, Department of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India
  • Dharmendra K Singh Professor, Department of Pediatric Medicine, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India
  • Devendra K Gupta Director, SSPHPGTI and Professor, Department of Pediatric Surgery, Super Speciality Pediatric Hospital and Post Graduate Teaching Institute, Noida, Delhi NCR, India

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i3.32738

Keywords:

COVID-19, Comorbidities, Children, Cancer

Abstract

Background: Data on the outcome of children with SARS-COV-2 infection (COVID-19) is still evolving as the pandemic unfolds.

Aims and Objective: The present study aims at describing the clinical severity, course and outcome of COVID-19 in children who had underlying illnesses or co-infections.

Materials and Methods: Retrospective, single center, observational study, conducted in a pediatric tertiary care center at Noida (National Capital Region, India).

Results: We analyzed the data of 15 children with co-morbidities associated with COVID-19. Cancer (n=4, 26.6%), co-infections (n=5, 33.3%), Thalassemia major (n=2, 13.3%) and one child each with celiac disease, cholelithiasis, Duchenne muscular dystrophy and multiple rib fractures were diagnosed with COVID-19. None were asymptomatic. 9 children (60%) had mild symptoms and 4 had moderate symptoms (26.6%) with respiratory distress. 2 children had severe respiratory distress requiring high flow oxygen. Convalescent plasma, IVIG, Oseltamivir, Azithromycin, Hydroxychloroquine were given as treatment in varying combinations. All children recovered from COVID-19.

Conclusion: Active malignancy, hypogammaglobinemia, underlying lung disease were associated with moderate to severe symptoms in this series of patients. Convalescent plasma helped in both children with severe hypoxia.

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Published

2021-03-01

How to Cite

Shukla, U., Radhakrishnan, N., Bhakhri, B. K., Shankar, R., Ghosh, S., Jain, V., Singh, D. K., & Gupta, D. K. (2021). Children, comorbidities and COVID-19 - What tilts the balance?. Asian Journal of Medical Sciences, 12(3), 10–13. https://doi.org/10.3126/ajms.v12i3.32738

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2021)

Section

Original Articles

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