Özet:

Limited studies have been published on practices and management of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) in children from the beginning of the pandemic. With this study, we aimed to share the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of infection in pediatric patients and our experiences. COVID-19 Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test positive pediatric patients we followed up in our hospital between March to December 2020 were included in the study. The epidemiological, laboratory, radiological, and clinical data of the patients were analyzed retrospectively. During the study period, 246 test positive pediatric patients were admitted. The median age was 9 years (2 months-17 years), girls accounted for 53,7%, and 76 (31%) patients were asymptomatic. The cough was the predominant symptom (48%), followed by fever (43%) and sore throat (15%). There was a household contact in 199 (81%) of all cases and 32 (12%) patients had comorbidity and chronic illness. The most common laboratory findings; lymphopenia (26%), eosinopenia (21%), monocytosis (18%), high C-reactive protein (20%). Distribution according to case classes; asymptomatic (32,2%), mild (52,4%), moderate (13,8%), severe (1.2%), critical (0.4%). Of all cases, 48 (19.5%) were inpatients and 11 (4.5%) were in intensive care. Chest tomography was performed in 25 (10%) patients and 10 (4%) were abnormal. As a treatment, 22 (8%) patients received favipiravir, 1 (0.4%) lopinavir-ritonavir, 16 (%6) antibiotics, 4 (1.6%) methylprednisolone and 3 (1.2%) low molecular weight heparin. COVID-19 is often asymptomatic and mild in children, it may rarely have a severe course. More caution should be exercised in children under 1 year of age and patients with comorbidities.

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