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CHARACTERIZATION OF PATIENTS YOUNGER THAN 90 DAYS OF AGE WITH COVID-19 INFECTION IN A TERTIARY PEDIATRIC HOSPITAL IN COSTA RICA
Abstract
Background
SARS-CoV-2 infection became a public health emergency around the world. Although infection in adults has been described as more severe when compared with children, the real burden of disease in vulnerable population such as neonates is still not well understood.
Aims
We sought to describe the clinical characteristics of patients younger than 90 days of age infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the only tertiary hospital in Costa Rica.
Methods
We collected the clinical information of patients diagnosed with Covid-19 using PCR between August 2020 to July 2021. After discharge, patients were contacted once by phone for follow-up. Clinical presentation, laboratory findings, and outcomes were analyzed for this report.
Results
Between August 2020-July 2021, 72 patients younger than 90 days of age were included. Median age was 36 days [24.5-56.8], with most patients having adequate prenatal care (86%), complete vaccination schedules, (97%), and being breastfed (97%). Fever (58%), rhinorrhea (43%), increase work of breathing (40%), and cough (38%) were the most common clinical findings at admission. Most patients were admitted (79%), with 33 (46%) requiring oxygen and 8 (11%) needing PICU admission. Outpatients were older (54 [48-60] vs. 32 [24-51] days of age, p=0.027), and presented most commonly with rhinorrhea (80% vs. 33%, p=0.002) and lower lymphocytes counts (2.1 [1.8-3] vs. 4.1 [2.5-6], p=0.04). No patients died during the study period.
Conclusions
SARS-CoV-2 infection in young infants is still not well understood, and clinical presentation varies among this population. Understanding the clinical presentation could help us predict possible outcomes in this vulnerable group.