Abstract

COVID19 pandemic had affected millions of people worldwide. In contrast with adults, children had milder disease though transmission rate was high. During second wave of COVID 19, more children were affected Aim: To describe and compare the clinical profile of COVID 19 infection in children between the first and second waves. Methods: This was a descriptive cross-sectional study done by retrospective chart analysis. The study population included children from age group 1 month to 12 years admitted with a diagnosis of COVID 19 infection at a tertiary care centre in Kerala. Results: A total of 322 case records were analyzed and 52 were excluded due to incomplete data. Of the 270 records of children, 51(18.9%) were in 1st wave and 219 (81.1%) were in 2nd wave. Among the major clinical symptoms, fever and respiratory complaints were more common. There was significant difference in the mean age of children in 2 waves (2.47 years in 1st wave and 3.70 in second wave, P value 0.023). The proportion of asymptomatic patients were significantly higher during the 1st wave 39 (77%) compared to 2ndwave 98 (45%) with a significant p value of <0.001. Subgroup analysis was done for the presenting symptoms in which gastrointestinal and respiratory symptoms were predominant in the 2nd wave. There was no child mortality during both waves. Conclusion: The study showed significant difference in the presenting symptoms during the 1st and 2nd waves of COVID19 pandemic with higher rate of respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms during the 2nd wave and more asymptomatic cases during the 1st wave. Since the symptomatology of presentation was evolving, the suspicion of COVID 19 as causative agent for respiratory and gastrointestinal symptoms should remain high.

Description