P-20 The Clinical Course of Covid 19 in the Paediatric Population at Georgetown Public Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital: A Retrospective Chart Review.
Author(s):
K Bynoe, P Persaud
Year of Presentation:
2024
Objective: To examine the clinical progression of Covid 19 positive paediatric patients who required admission at GPHC and to the IDH based on demographics, signs and symptoms at presentation, clinical course during admission and highlight pertinent laboratory findings.
Methods: This study was a retrospective chart analysis of a cohort of Covid 19 paediatric patients aged zero (0) to twelve (12) years admitted between August 2020–August 2022 at GPHC and IDH. Ninety-Five (95) charts were used and a data collection sheet was used to gather the necessary data. Analysis was then done using SPSS version 26.
Results: 95 charts were reviewed and showed a predominance of males (64.2%) and patients of African descent (35.8%). The largest age-group of children admitted were under 1 year (20%). Chief complaints were fever and vomiting; 26% and 18% respectively. On admission only 16 patients (9%) had a fever. Most patients had normal WBC(59.5%), and infiltrates were common on chest x-rays (68%). Most patients 82 (86%) did not have any complications during their hospitalization. There were 4 (4.2%) deaths. Underlying medical conditions did not have any effects of admission duration (p=0.424) nor on developing complications (p=0.098).
Conclusion: Children appear to have a milder disease course regardless of having an underlying medical condition. Fever and vomiting were the most common presenting complaints, hence there should still be a high level of suspicion when patients present even without respiratory symptoms.