SARS-CoV-2 infection in children managed at a non-COVID tertiary hospital in Tegucigalpa, Honduras
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61997/bjm.v14i2.475Keywords:
COVID-19, Severe acute respiratory syndrome-related coronavirus, Coronavirus infections, SARS-CoV-2Abstract
Background: SARS-CoV-2 in children represents 2 %-5 % of all cases; it is generally asymptomatic, although some patients may present with severe disease requiring admission to a Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and assisted ventilation due to complications, mainly severe pneumonia. Objective: To characterize children diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2 infection treated at a non-COVID tertiary hospital. Methods: Retrospective, descriptive, cross-sectional study was carried out in the Pediatric Emergency Department of the Escuela Hospital, Tegucigalpa, Honduras, from January 2021 to December 2022. The sample consisted of 66 patients, of which 47 met the inclusion criteria. Results: Average age 51.0 months (+/-61.9; r: 10 months-17 years); male sex was more frequent at 59.6% (28/47). Comorbidity was present in 20 patients (42.6%); the main symptoms were fever (87.2% (41/47), cough (68.1% (32/47), and diarrhea (27.7% (13/47). Leukocytosis was reported to 59.6% (28/47), neutrophilia in 63.8% (30/47), and lymphopenia (46.7%; 22/47). Treatment included ceftriaxone in 48.9% (23/47) and intravenous fluids in 21.2% (10/47). Complications were present in 28 cases (59.6%), mainly severe pneumonia. A total of 10.6% (5/47) were admitted to the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit; two patients (4.3%) died. Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric patients treated at a non-COVID tertiary care hospital is consistent with that described in the literature; the clinical picture may be mild, although the risk of severe disease may be higher in those with comorbidities.
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