COVID-19 associated pediatric complications

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Harmeet Kharoud M.D.[2]

Presentations

• Presentation of COVID-19 is less severe in children as compared to adults.
• According to CDC, as of April 2, 2020, 1.7% confirmed cases of COVID-19 were reported in children aged <18 years age among the total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19.
• COVID-19 in children could range from asymptomatic presentation to mild to severe disease.

Symptoms

• Fever and Cough are one of the most common symptoms reported in children.
  • One study showed fever is prevalent in 47.5% of children and cough in 41.5% among the 1124 children with COVID-19.
  • According to the CDC, fever, and cough was reported in 56% and 54% of children with COVID 19
• Dyspnea, nasal congestion, pharyngeal erythema, and sore throat are also common presentations in children.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms-The gastrointestinal manifestation in COVID-19 positive children are diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, nausea, and anorexia.
  • Children can present with gastrointestinal symptoms in the absence of respiratory symptoms.
• Cutaneous Findings

Severity of Disease in Children with COVID-19

• Asymptomatic presentation-
  • A large number of children with COVID-19 are asymptomatic.
  • According to one study 14.2% of children were asymptomatic. Another study showed 18% of asymptomatic children with COVID-19.
• Mild Disease
  • Few numbers of children also present with mild manifestations of COVID-19.
  • A study showed 36.3% of children present with a mild form of the disease.
• Severe
  • 2.1% of children present with a severe form of COVID-19 disease.
  • Children with underlying comorbidities are more susceptible to getting severe COVID-19 disease.

Diagnosis

Most of the children with SARS-CoV-2 infection are either asymptomatic or produce mild symptoms. As asymptomatic patients do not get tested for COVID-19 and are potential carriers for viral transmission, high clinical suspicion is required to prevent such transmissions to a population at risk of developing severe disease. A pediatrician should be cautious to eliminate other causes of respiratory illnesses like seasonal influenza before any diagnostic tests. No diagnostic test is required for a kid with mild illness and no history of exposure to SARS-CoV-2.

Reverse-Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved real-time Reverse-Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) as the preferred test for diagnosing COVID-19 in children

• RT-PCR has high specificity and sensitivity of 66-80% in diagnosing SARS-CoV-2 infection
• The test is negative during the first 7-10 days of the infection and remains positive for several weeks after the infection subsides
• Swab contamination may produce false-positive results
• High levels of SARS-CoV-2 RNA were obtained in the samples from the upper respiratory tract in both symptomatic and asymptomatic patients
• Nasopharyngeal swabs and oropharyngeal swabs or throat swab are the preferred samples for the diagnostic test
• Nasopharyngeal swab is collected in children less than 2 years of age
• A throat swab is preferred for children above 2 years
• Due to the difficulty in obtaining samples and poor cooperation of children, it is advised to use saliva samples to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection
• Saliva samples reportedly showed higher positive rates than Nasopharyngeal swabs in adults. It is quick and non-invasive that deceases the risk of exposure and contamination
• In patients with a high risk of exposure, one negative test result does not exclude the infection. The test should be repeated or lower respiratory tract samples like Bronchoscopic Alveolar Lavage (BAL) should be used as a specimen in such patients
• Due to the increased risk of exposure for both patient and health care worker, bronchoscopy is not recommended to diagnose SARS-CoV-2 infection
• In patients on mechanical ventilation, bronchoscopic alveolar lavage fluid or endotracheal aspirates can be used
• The virus RNA was also detected in blood and stools specimen
• Real-time Fluorescent RT-PCR is used in children with atypical symptoms
• Alternatively, some researchers suggest using metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) of viral RNA for the diagnosis

Lab abnormalities

Studies reportedly showed following lab abnormalities in pediatric patients with COVID-19

• Leucocytosis(7.5%) or Leucopenia(16.6%)
• Increased (27.4%) or decreased (24%) neutrophils
• Lymphopenia (12.9%) or Lymphocytosis (11.7%)
• Increased (9.5%) or decreased (3.2%) platelets
• Increased CRP levels (19.3%)
• Increased procalcitonin levels (49.8%)
• Increased liver enzymes (19.2%)
• Increased Serum Creatinine (4%)
• Increased blood urea nitrogen (5%)
• Increased lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) levels (29%)
• Increased Creatine kinase levels (21%)
• Increased D-dimer levels (12%)

Co-infections

Co-infection with other pathogens were reported in 27% of cases. Some common microorganisms associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection in children are

• Mycoplasma pneumoniae
• Influenza B virus
• Influenza A virus
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV)
• Cytomegalovirus (CMV)
• Enterobacter aerogenes

Radiological findings

CT chest is an important diagnostic modality in pediatric patients with COVID-19. Chest CT scans has reportedly shown higher positive rates in suspected patients than RT-PCR. It has better sensitivity. CT chest and a series of chest X-rays can be used to monitor the progression of the disease. Imaging findings reported in the studies are

• Local patchy shadows (18.7%)
• Bilateral patchy shadows (12.3%)
• Consolidation (33%)
• Ground glass opacities (28%)
• Interstitial abnormalities (1.2%)
• Pleural effusion was reported in a 2-month old child who had a co-infection with RSV along with SARS-CoV-2

Children are at increased risk of radiation and its effects, so CT scans and X-rays should be judiciously used in them. It is advised to perform Pulmonary Ultrasonography (USG) in newborns. It has better sensitivity and is safer than CT scans and Chest X-rays.