Abstract

COVID-19 or coronavirus disease is caused by SARS-CoV2 and has affected a large population globally including India. It has affected subjects from all age groups including children. However, despite intensive research conducted on COVID-19, data is scarce concerning the epidemiological and clinical features and transmission pattern of COVID-19 in child subjects of India. Aim: The present study aimed to assess the clinical features and epidemiological profile of Indian pediatric subjects during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study assessed 100 child subjects within the age range of 1 month to 18 years with the confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 using the nasopharyngeal swab and tested with RT-PCR (reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction). In these subjects, laboratory profiles and clinical parameters were assessed and collected data were statistically analyzed. Results: The most common symptom was fever in 34% (n=34) study subjects followed by cough in 16% (n=16) child subjects, sore throat in 135 (n=13) study subjects, malaria in 7% (n=7) children, and diarrhea and headache in 5% (n=5) children each. The severity of illness was mild, moderate, and severe in 35 9n=3), 39% (n=39), and 58% (n=58) children. Conclusion: The present study, considering its limitations, concludes that the burden of COVID-19 disease is higher in child subjects from a low socioeconomic status with a history of positive contact from the household. COVID-19 has also been shown to have a mild pattern in subjects from the pediatric age group. The LMR (lymphocyte monocyte ratio) showed a significant association with the disease severity with p=0.02 and NLR (neutrophil-lymphocyte ratio) also had a significant correlation with COVID-19 severity with p=0.01. However, no significant correlation to disease severity was seen for CRP levels and PLR (platelet lymphocyte ratio) with p=0.06 and 0.26 respectively.

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