Research ArticleOriginal Article
Open Access

Clinical manifestations of COVID-19 versus other upper respiratory tract infections in pediatric patients

Manar M. Alzahrani, Abdulaziz K. Alaraifi, Lama H. Aldosari, Leen O. Hijazi and Fahad A. Alsaab
Saudi Medical Journal January 2023, 44 (1) 74-79; DOI: https://doi.org/10.15537/smj.2023.44.1.20220439

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Tables

  • Table 1

    - Demographics and clinical characteristics of all study groups.

    CharacteristicsOverall (N=468)COVID-19 (n=234)URTI (n=234)P-values
    Age, mean±SD9.9±2.3410.05±2.349.75±2.340.167
    Age groups
    6-10 years259 (55.3)119 (50.9)140 (59.8)0.051
    11-14 years209 (44.7)115 (49.1)94 (40.2)
    Gender
    Males239 (51.1)117 (50.0)122 (52.1)0.64
    Females229 (48.9)117 (50.0)112 (47.9)
    History of allergic rhinitis: itching and sneezing78 (16.7)12 (5.1)66 (28.2)0.000*
    History of asthma82 (17.5)28 (12.0)54 (23.1)0.002*

    Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

    • ↵* P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. COVID-19: coronavirus disease-19, URTI: upper respiratory tract infection, SD: standard deviation

  • Table 2

    - Clinical manifestations of coronavirus disease-19 and upper respiratory tract infection in pediatric patients.

    SymptomsOverall (N=468)COVID-19 (n=234)URTI (n=234)P-values*
    Fever344 (73.5)152 (65.0)192 (82.1)0.000
    Sore throat245 (52.4)72 (30.8)173 (73.9)0.000
    Cough208 (44.4)80 (34.2)128 (54.7)0.000
    Rhinorrhea171 (36.5)65 (27.8)106 (45.3)0.000
    Nasal obstruction125 (26.7)33 (14.1)92 (39.3)0.000
    Headache161 (34.4)71 (30.3)90 (38.5)0.064
    Dyspnea107 (22.9)29 (12.4)78 (33.3)0.000
    Otalgia52 (11.1)11 (4.7)41 (17.5)0.000
    Otorrhea13 (2.8)1 (0.4)12 (5.1)0.002
    Change in taste70 (15.0)57 (24.4)13 (5.6)0.000
    Change in smell69 (14.7)47 (20.1)22 (9.4)0.001

    Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

    • ↵* P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. COVID-19: coronavirus disease-19, URTI: upper respiratory tract infection

  • Table 3

    - Statistically significant symptoms in logistic regression analysis.

    SymptomsP-values*Odds ratios95% confidence interval
    Change in taste0.00021.9837.455-64.826
    Sore throat0.0000.1850.113-0.302
    Dyspnea0.0010.3650.199-0.670
    Nasal obstruction0.0000.2730.140-0.533
    Otalgia0.0050.2520.096-0.664

    • ↵* P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. The reference category is: coronavirus group.

  • Table 4

    - Change in smell and taste in coronavirus disease-19 versus upper respiratory tract infection according to age.

    Symptoms6-10 years (n=259)11-14 years (n=209)
    COVID-19URTIP-valuesCOVID-19URTIP-values
    Change in taste23 (19.3)9 (6.4)0.002*34 (29.6)4 (4.3)0.000*
    Change in smell20 (16.8)13 (9.3)0.15227 (23.5)9 (9.6)0.007*

    Values are presented as numbers and precentages (%).

    • ↵* P-value of <0.05 was considered significant. COVID-19: coronavirus disease-19, URTI: upper respiratory tract infection

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