PREVALENCE AND CLINICAL PROFILE OF COVID-19 IN CHILDREN AT TERTIARY CARE CENTER OF DHAKA: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY

Professor Dr. M. A. Mannan*, Dr. Mohammad Abul Khayer, Dr. Tareq Rahman, Dr. Asif Rashed, Dr. Abu Sayeed Chowdhury

ABSTRACT

Background: All over the world, fewer cases of COVID-19 in children have been reported than in adults. Most cases in children are mild, and treatment consists of supportive care. Due to geographical, socioeconomical, nutritional and immunological dissimilarity, and inadequacy of health care facility, there would be variation in clinical profile and severity of the affected children with outcome across the globe. There is scarcity of information whether children are at high risk of infection and severity of COVID-19 with outcome during this period. Objective: This study aimed to see the clinical profile of children with COVID-19. Methodology: This was a cross sectional study which was conducted at Mugda Medical College Hospital, Dhaka, Bangladesh from March 2021 to June 2021. Results: A total of 4141 patients RT PCR were tested for COVID 19 diagnosis, out of them COVID-19 children were 21 which was 4.06% of total RT PCR COVID 19 positive (total number -517). and 8.54% of total tested children (total number -246). There was no tested positive COVID-19 in neonatal and infantile age group, there was only 1 (4.76%) children between 1 and 5 years of age and there were 20 (95.24%) children between 5 and 18 years of age tested positive for COVID-19. Among tested positive children 2 (9.5%) were from outside of Dhaka and 19 (90.5%) were from inside Dhaka. Fever was the most common symptom among all age group. Only 1 (4.76%) children needed hospitalization but no patient needed ICU care. All the patients were recovered. Conclusion: In this study 4.06% children were affected with COVID-19 and all they are mild case. Most of them were above 5 years of age and infected from family members. Fever was the most common symptoms. All the patients of child age were recovered.

Keywords: COVID-19, Children, respiratory.