COVID-۱۹ Infection in Pediatric Patients: An Epidemiological Study in Iran

Background: COVID-۱۹ is a highly infectious and contagious disease. Since the outbreak of COVID-۱۹, most studies on children have focused on the incidence and prognosis of the disease, and few studies have investigated the epidemiological characteristics of the disease.  Objectives: This study aimed to investigate some epidemiological aspects of the disease in children with COVID-۱۹.  Methods: We examined children with COVID-۱۹ (under ۱۸ years) hospitalized in the North East of Iran from the beginning of the outbreak until the end of September ۲۰۲۰. Study information was collected from patients’ medical records and interviews with their parents. We recorded demographic data; history of diseases and taking medicine in children; educational, occupational, and smoking status of parents; patients’ residence conditions; and any report of COVID-۱۹ in patients’ families and relatives. Results: Of ۱۰۷ children studied, ۵۷% were male, and ۵۲.۳% had no underlying disease. The mean age of patients was ۶۷ months. The Mean±SD weight of the children was ۲۰.۳۶±۱۳.۷۵ kg, and their Mean±SD length of hospital stay was ۹±۸ days. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) was observed in ۳۴.۶% of patients, and its relationship with death was highly significant (P=۰.۰۰۱). The length of hospital stay was influenced by the history of medication consumption (P=۰.۰۱۳) and underlying disease (P=۰.۰۰۱), and its increase was associated with an increased risk of MIS-C (P=۰.۰۳۲) and death (P=۰.۰۴۷). Conclusions: Male sex, length of hospital stay, and MIS-C were identified as risk factors associated with worsening the outcome of COVID-۱۹ disease in children.

Keywords:

Children , COVID-۱۹ , Epidemiology , Multisystem iMIS-C , SARS-CoV-۲