Clinical Characteristics of Acute Respiratory Syndrome with SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children in South China.

BACKGROUND: A retrospective study was conducted to summarize the clinical information of childhood infections during the SARS-CoV-2 epidemic. METHODS: Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection in 11 hospitals from three provinces of South China were included in the study. Clinical information was collected and compared with children and adults infected by SARS-CoV-2 in Wuhan. RESULTS: 52 children were enrolled, including 28 boys. Median age was 9 years (IQR, 4-12). 44.2% were clustered occurrences. 40.4% with fever and 48.1% with cough. 46.2% had a high lymphocyte count. No abnormalities were found in liver and kidney function. 82.7% received antiviral therapy, but such therapy did not shorten virus negative time or hospital stay (P=0.082). Virus negative time was 12.0 days (IQR, 8.0-16.8), and hospital stay was 14.5 days (IQR, 10.3-17.9). Compared with reports in Wuhan, there were more AURTI and fewer pneumonia cases (P=0.000). Compared with the non-ICU adult COVID-19 in Wuhan, these children's diseases were relatively mild, with fewer complications. CONCLUSIONS: Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection had a mild fever, lymphocyte elevation was more common than reduction, antiviral treatment had no obvious effect. The overall clinical manifestations were mild, and the prognosis was good. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.