Clinical, laboratory, and chest radiographic characteristics of COVID-19 associated severe pediatric pneumonia. A retrospective study

Saudi Med J. 2022 Dec;43(12):1390-1396. doi: 10.15537/smj.2022.43.12.20220420.

Abstract

Objectives: To evaluate the demographics, clinical presentation, laboratory data, chest radiographs, and outcomes of pediatric patients with critical coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: This retrospective study included 34 children who were diagnosed with severe COVID-19 pneumonia between August 2020 and July 2021. Severe pneumonia was defined as fever, respiratory distress (tachypnea, chest retractions, and hypoxia [oxygen saturation <90% in room air]), and obvious infiltrations on chest radiography.

Results: Ages of the patients ranged from newborns to 12 years old, with a median of 24 months (interquartile range: 12-72 months). Preschool-aged children were the most common age group (44%). Levels of inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein, ferritin, and procalcitonin) were elevated in most patients. A total of 13 patients developed severe acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), while 4 developed multiorgan failure. Despite receiving supportive therapy, 2 (5.9%) patients died due to severe septic shock and multiorgan failure. One deceased patient was born prematurely at 30 weeks, while the other had chronic granulomatous disease.

Conclusion: This study described a single-center cohort of pediatric patients with severe COVID-19 pneumonia. In this cohort, children with cardiopulmonary comorbidities and ARDS had a high mortality and long-term morbidity, as observed in other pediatric studies.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; children; coronavirus disease-19; pneumonia.

MeSH terms

  • COVID-19*
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Dyspnea
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Radiography
  • Respiratory Distress Syndrome*
  • Retrospective Studies
  • SARS-CoV-2