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CLINICAL OUTCOMES OF PEDIATRIC COVID-19 IN A TERTIARY CARE CENTER IN BANGKOK, THAILAND
Abstract
Background
Reports of pediatric COVID-19 cases in Asia are limited. In Thailand, the third outbreak has been resurged in April 2021 coincided with an increasing proportion of the Delta variant.
Aims
To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of pediatric COVID-19 in Thailand where favipiravir is the mainstay for antiviral treatment.
Methods
An observational cohort study, hospital-based of COVID-19 among children was conducted at tertiary care center in Bangkok, Thailand. The study included children age younger than 15 years with confirmed positive RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 from nasopharyngeal swab.
Results
From April to July 2021, 416 cases with median (IQR) age of 7.1 (2.7-11.6) years were included. Ninety one percent contacted from household members. The spectrum of diseases included 82 (20%) asymptomatic, 232 (56%) mild, and 102 (24%) pneumonia. Abnormal chest x-ray findings included ground glass opacities (46%), focal infiltrations (27%), perihilar opacities (19%), reticular infiltrations (15%), and other non-specific findings (4%). Only 12 children (3%) required oxygen support. Favipiravir was prescribed to 129 children (31%); 102 patients with pneumonia and 27 patients at risk for disease progression. Pneumonia was more common in age less than 3 years when compared to those aged 3-<12 years (aOR 0.30, 95%CI 0.17-0.52), and 12-15 years (aOR 0.40, 95%CI 0.21-0.77), and in patients with comorbidities (aOR 2.36, 95%CI 1.09-5.12). Rates of pneumonia significantly increased from April to Jul 2021 (p=0.008).
Conclusions
One-fourth of pediatric COVID had pneumonia, but only few required oxygen support. Favipiravir has been reported as an off-label uses in pediatric COVID-19 in recent outbreak in Bangkok.