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Sartori AL, Buffarini R, Machado da Silva A, Amaral de Andrade Leão O, Ramos Flores T, Dâmaso Bertoldi A, Curi Hallal P, Freitas da Silveira M. Child COVID-19 vaccine uptake among participants of the 2015 Pelotas (Brazil) Birth Cohort Study. Vaccine 2024; 42:126105. [PMID: 38991916 DOI: 10.1016/j.vaccine.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 06/27/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/13/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze COVID-19 vaccine uptake in children and to investigate factors associated with two outcomes variables: (a) not even beginning; (b) not completing the COVID-19 vaccine series. METHODS We used data of children aged 6-7 years from the 2015 Pelotas c Birth Cohort Study. COVID-19 vaccination status was collected from immunization cards and National Immunization Program Information System. Adjusted analyses were performed using a hierarchical model to identify factors associated with the two study outcomes. RESULTS Among 3867 children, 20.7 % (95 % CI, 19.5 %-22.0 %) did not even begin the 2-dose primary COVID-19 vaccine series, and 28.2 % (95 % CI, 26.6 %-29.8 %) did not complete the series with the second dose. Children not even beginning the COVID-19 vaccine series were more likely to have a White mother, not to have obesity, to have a history of COVID-19 infection, to have received non-recommended drugs for COVID-19, to be afraid of needles, and to have an incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP) and poliovirus immunization schedule. Not completing the 2-dose series was associated with lower maternal age and education, mother's self-identification as White or Brown, lower household income, lack of access to health services, not having completed the DTP and poliovirus immunization schedule and living with a person with a history of infection with COVID-19. CONCLUSION The results highlight a vaccine-hesitant parents' group who chose not beginning the COVID-19 vaccine series of their children and, another group of parents who failure to complete the child's series due to difficulty accessing health services.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Lucia Sartori
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Institute of Health Sciences, Federal University of Mato Grosso, 1200 Alexandre Ferronato Avenue, 78550-728, Sinop, MT, Brazil.
| | - Romina Buffarini
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Postgraduate Program in Health Sciences, Federal University of Rio Grande, General Osório Street, 96200-400 Rio Grande, RS, Brazil.
| | - Aline Machado da Silva
- Pelotas Municipal Health Department, 1764 Lobo da Costa Street, 96020-360 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
| | - Otávio Amaral de Andrade Leão
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 1206 S 4th St, 61820, Urbana/Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
| | - Thaynã Ramos Flores
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
| | - Andréa Dâmaso Bertoldi
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
| | - Pedro Curi Hallal
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil; Department of Health and Kinesiology, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 906 S. Goodwin, 61801-3841, Urbana/Champaign, Champaign, IL, USA.
| | - Mariângela Freitas da Silveira
- Postgraduate Program in Epidemiology, Federal University of Pelotas, 1160 Marechal Deodoro Street, 3rd floor, 96020-220 Pelotas, RS, Brazil.
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Oliveira EA, Oliveira MCL, Simões E Silva AC, Dias CS, Diniz LM, Colosimo EA, Mak RH, Vasconcelos MA, Pinhati CC, Galante SC, Veloso IY, Duelis FN, Martelli-Júnior H. A Population-Based Epidemiologic Study of Symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 Infections and Fatalities in Brazilian Children over 3 Years. J Pediatr 2024; 276:114267. [PMID: 39233114 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2024.114267] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2024] [Revised: 08/05/2024] [Accepted: 08/26/2024] [Indexed: 09/06/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiologic characteristics, outcomes, and risk factors of COVID-19-related deaths in children and adolescents in Brazil. STUDY DESIGN We conducted a population-based, retrospective cohort study that included all patients aged <18 years with laboratory-confirmed, symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection as registered in official Brazilian national surveillance systems for COVID-19 between February 2020 and February 2023. The primary outcome was COVID-19-related deaths. Odds ratios (ORs) of risk factors associated with death were estimated using multivariable logistic regression. RESULTS Over a 3-year period, 2 855 704 pediatric patients with symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection were registered in Brazil. Of these, 59 179 (2.1%) were hospitalized, 13 844 (0.48%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, and 4943 (0.17%) received mechanical ventilation. A total of 4740 (0.17%) patients had fatal outcomes. The case fatality rate increased to 7.9% among patients who required hospitalization; 2102 (44.3%) patients who died did not receive advanced critical support. Notably, 2 (65%, 95% CI 58-71) or 3 doses (86%, 95% CI 81-89) of the vaccine provided strong protection against death. The following adjusted covariates were significantly associated with increased odds of death: age (0-4 and 11-17 years), ethnicity (Brown and Indigenous), region (Northeast or North), dyspnea, nosocomial infection, and comorbidities. Conversely, living in the South or Central-West regions, admission in the later period of the pandemic, and receiving a vaccine were all associated with protection against death. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that a complex interplay between individual factors and social inequities has shaped the impact of COVID-19 on Brazilian children and adolescents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo A Oliveira
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Maria Christina L Oliveira
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Simões E Silva
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Cristiane S Dias
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Lilian M Diniz
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Enrico A Colosimo
- Department of Statistics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Robert H Mak
- Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Mariana A Vasconcelos
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Clara C Pinhati
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Stella C Galante
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Isadora Y Veloso
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Fernanda N Duelis
- Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Hercílio Martelli-Júnior
- Health Science/Primary Care Postgraduate Program, State University of Montes Claros (Unimontes), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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de Souza DC, Paul R, Mozun R, Sankar J, Jabornisky R, Lim E, Harley A, Al Amri S, Aljuaid M, Qian S, Schlapbach LJ, Argent A, Kissoon N. Quality improvement programmes in paediatric sepsis from a global perspective. THE LANCET. CHILD & ADOLESCENT HEALTH 2024; 8:695-706. [PMID: 39142743 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-4642(24)00142-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2023] [Revised: 05/28/2024] [Accepted: 06/04/2024] [Indexed: 08/16/2024]
Abstract
Sepsis is a major contributor to poor child health outcomes around the world. The high morbidity, mortality, and societal cost associated with paediatric sepsis render it a global health priority, as summarised in Paper 1 of this Series. Sepsis is characterised by a dysregulated host response to infection that manifests as organ failure, and children are uniquely susceptible to sepsis, as discussed in Paper 2. The focus of this third Series paper is quality improvement in paediatric sepsis. The 2017 WHO resolution on sepsis outlined key aims to reduce the burden of sepsis. As of 2024, only a small number of countries have implemented systematic, paediatric-focused quality improvement programmes to raise sepsis awareness, enhance recognition of sepsis, promote timely treatment, and provide long-term support for paediatric sepsis survivors. We examine programme successes and systematic barriers to quality improvement targeting paediatric sepsis. We highlight the need for programme design to consider the entire patient journey, starting with prevention, caregiver awareness, recognition at home, education of the health-care workforce, development of health-care systems, and establishment of long-term family and survivor support extending beyond the intensive care unit. Building on lessons learnt from existing quality improvement programmes, we outline implementation strategies and measures to enable benchmarking. Ultimately, quality improvement on a global scale can only be accelerated through a global learning platform focusing on paediatric sepsis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela C de Souza
- Latin American Sepsis Institute, São Paulo, Brazil; Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Universitário da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil; Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Hospital Sírio Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil.
| | - Raina Paul
- Children's Hospital of Orange County, Orange, CA, USA; Improving Pediatric Sepsis Outcomes Collaborative, Children's Hospital Association, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rebeca Mozun
- Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Jhuma Sankar
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Roberto Jabornisky
- Universidad Nacional del Nordeste, Corrientes, Argentina; LARed Network, Montevideo, Uruguay; SLACIP Sociedad Latinoamericana de Cuidados Intensivos Pediátricos, Monterrey, Mexico
| | - Emma Lim
- Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Immunology and Allergy, Great North Children's Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Population Health Sciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Amanda Harley
- Queensland Paediatric Sepsis Program, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Queensland Children's Hospital, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Samirah Al Amri
- Nursing Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Maha Aljuaid
- Nursing Department, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia; Ministry of National Guard Health Affairs, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Suyun Qian
- Beijing Children's Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Luregn J Schlapbach
- Department of Intensive Care and Neonatology, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Children's Research Center, University Children's Hospital Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland; Child Health Research Centre, University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | | | - Niranjan Kissoon
- Global Child Health Department of Pediatrics and Emergency Medicine, British Columbia Women and Children's Hospital and the University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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Nieuwoudt M, O’Connell NL, van der Zalm MM, Redfern AW, Rabie H. COVID-19 in children: Clinical presentation and hospital course at a district hospital in South Africa. S Afr J Infect Dis 2024; 39:580. [PMID: 39114259 PMCID: PMC11304354 DOI: 10.4102/sajid.v39i1.580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Limited data exist on South African children hospitalised with COVID-19 in district hospitals. We describe the presentation and outcomes of children admitted to a level 1 and 2 hospital and compare this with children admitted to a level 2 and 3 hospital. Contribution This study highlights that young age is an important risk factor for hospitalisation with severe COVID-19. Infants with HIV exposure and prematurity are disproportionately represented among admissions. Furthermore, we notice a high number of children with current or new tuberculosis confirming the interplay between viral infections and childhood tuberculosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mareli Nieuwoudt
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Natasha L. O’Connell
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Khayelitsha Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marieke M. van der Zalm
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andrew W. Redfern
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Helena Rabie
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
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5
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Bennet R, Rinder MR, George E, Hertting O, Luthander J, Åkefeldt SO, Hammas B, Allander T, Eriksson M. Pre-admission virus detection during the COVID-19 pandemic in children with and without symptoms of infection. Acta Paediatr 2024; 113:1679-1684. [PMID: 38445712 DOI: 10.1111/apa.17195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024]
Abstract
AIM Pre-admission viral screening is used only in exceptional situations such as pandemics. We therefore evaluated pre-admission screening for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and influenza during the COVID-19 pandemic, comparing epidemiology and clinical features of admitted children. METHODS Children were screened at a paediatric emergency department from 1 March 2020 to 30 June 2022 by nasopharyngeal sampling and polymerase chain reaction kit. We retrospectively retrieved positive results from the laboratory and scrutinised charts of admitted children. RESULTS Out of 15 927 screened children, 522, 127 and 572 were positive and admitted with RSV, influenza A or SARS-CoV-2, respectively. Of these, 29 (5.6%), 26 (24.1%) and 245 (44.8%) were incidental findings, lacking symptoms of infection. RSV and influenza A were initially absent but re-emerged in the autumn of 2021. The rate of COVID-19 rose when the Omicron variant emerged in December 2021. The median age of children with RSV was 0.3 years, of those with influenza A 6.7 years and of those with COVID-19 1.6 years. Major complications were rare. CONCLUSION Frequent incidental detections of SARS-CoV-2 likely reflected widespread presence of a mild infection. Clinically, COVID-19 was like other viral respiratory infections in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rutger Bennet
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Malin Ryd Rinder
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Eric George
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Olof Hertting
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Joachim Luthander
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | | | - Berit Hammas
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Tobias Allander
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
- Department of Microbiology, Tumour and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Margareta Eriksson
- Astrid Lindgren Children's Hospital, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
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6
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Khemiri H, Mangone I, Gdoura M, Mefteh K, Chouikha A, Fares W, Lorusso A, Ancora M, Pasquale AD, Cammà C, Halima SB, Krichen H, Smaoui H, Boubaker IBB, Bahri O, Touzi H, Sadraoui A, Meddeb Z, Hogga N, Safer M, Alaya NB, Triki H, Haddad-Boubaker S. Dynamic of SARS-CoV-2 variants circulation in Tunisian pediatric population, during successive waves, from March 2020 to September 2022. Virus Res 2024; 344:199353. [PMID: 38490581 PMCID: PMC10966772 DOI: 10.1016/j.virusres.2024.199353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 variants has led to several cases among children. However, limited information is available from North African countries. This study describes the SARS-CoV-2 strains circulating in Tunisian pediatric population during successive waves. A total of 447 complete sequences were obtained from individuals aged from 13 days to 18 years, between March 2020 and September 2022: 369 sequences generated during this study and 78 ones, available in GISAID, previously obtained from Tunisian pediatric patients. These sequences were compared with 354 and 274 ones obtained from Tunisian adults and a global dataset, respectively. The variant circulation dynamics of predominant variants were investigated during the study period using maximum-likelihood phylogenetic analysis. Among the studied population, adolescents were the predominant age group, comprising 55.26% of cases. Twenty-three lineages were identified; seven of which were not previously reported in Tunisia. Phylogenetic analysis showed a close relationship between the sequences from Tunisian adults and children. The connections of sequences from other countries were variable according to variants: close relationships were observed for Alpha, B1.160 and Omicron variants, while independent Tunisian clusters were observed for Delta and B.1.177 lineages. These findings highlight the pivotal role of children in virus transmission and underscore the impact of vaccination on virus spread. Vaccination of children, with booster doses, may be considered for better management of future emergences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifa Khemiri
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
| | - Iolanda Mangone
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Mariem Gdoura
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Khawla Mefteh
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Anissa Chouikha
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Wasfi Fares
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Alessio Lorusso
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Massimo Ancora
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Adriano Di Pasquale
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Cesare Cammà
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell' Abruzzo e del Molise, Teramo 64100, Italy
| | - Samar Ben Halima
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Krichen
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Hanen Smaoui
- Laboratory of Microbiology, Bechir Hamza Children's Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Ilhem Boutiba Ben Boubaker
- Charles Nicolle Hospital, Laboratory of Microbiology, National Reference Lab on AMR Surveillance, Tunis 1006, Tunisia; Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES09, Research Laboratory, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1006, Tunisia
| | - Olfa Bahri
- Laboratory of Microbiology and Biochemistry, Aziza Othmana Hospital, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Touzi
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Amel Sadraoui
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Zina Meddeb
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Nahed Hogga
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mouna Safer
- National Observatory of New and Emergent Diseases, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Nissaf Ben Alaya
- Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES09, Research Laboratory, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1006, Tunisia; National Observatory of New and Emergent Diseases, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia; Faculty of Medicine of Tunis, LR99ES09, Research Laboratory, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis 1006, Tunisia
| | - Sondes Haddad-Boubaker
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 Place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia; Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors (LR 20 IPT 02), Institute Pasteur of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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7
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Lockhart-Bouron M, Vanel N, Levy M, Briant AR, Javouhey E, Breinig S, Dina J, Caseris M, Angoulvant F, Leteurtre S, Recher M, Brossier DW. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2-related and imputable deaths in children: results from the French pediatric national registry. World J Pediatr 2024; 20:611-620. [PMID: 38506979 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-023-00791-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) is responsible for an important mortality rate worldwide. We aimed to evaluate the actual imputability of SARS-CoV-2 on the mortality rate associated with SARS-CoV-2-related illnesses in the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Secondary objectives were to identify risk factors for death. METHODS This national multicenter comparative study comprised all patients under 18 years old with positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) [acute corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) or incidental SARS-CoV-2 infection] and/or pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS) recorded in the French PICU registry (PICURe) between September 1, 2021, and August 31, 2022. Included patients were classified and compared according to their living status at the end of their PICU stay. Deceased patients were evaluated by four experts in the field of pediatric infectiology and/or pediatric intensive care. The imputability of SARS-CoV-2 as the cause of death was classified into four categories: certain, very probable, possible, or unlikely, and was defined by any of the first three categories. RESULTS There were 948 patients included of which 43 died (4.5%). From this, 26 deaths (67%) could be attributed to SARS-CoV-2 infection, with an overall mortality rate of 2.8%. The imputability of death to SARS-CoV-2 was considered certain in only one case (0.1%). Deceased patients suffered more often from comorbidities, especially heart disease, neurological disorders, hematological disease, cancer, and obesity. None of the deceased patients were admitted for pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome (PIMS). Mortality risk factors were male gender, cardiac comorbidities, cancer, and acute respiratory distress syndrome. CONCLUSIONS SARS-CoV-2 mortality in the French pediatric population was low. Even though the imputability of SARS-CoV-2 on mortality was considered in almost two-thirds of cases, this imputability was considered certain in only one case.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marguerite Lockhart-Bouron
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation Des Technologies de Santé Et Des Pratiques Médicales, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Noémie Vanel
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, CHU de Marseille, Marseille, France
| | - Michael Levy
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, CHU Robert-Debré, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
- Université Paris-Cité, Paris, France
| | - Anaïs R Briant
- Biostatistics and Clinical Research Unit, CHU de Caen Normandie, 14000, Caen, France
| | | | - Sophie Breinig
- Neonatal and Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Children's Hospital, Toulouse, France
| | - Julia Dina
- Virology Department, INSERM U1311 Dynamicure, Univ CAEN Normandie, CHU de Caen, 14000, Caen, France
- Medical School, Université Caen Normandie, 14000, Caen, France
| | - Marion Caseris
- Department of Pediatrics, CHU Robert-Debré, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Paris, France
| | - François Angoulvant
- Department Women-Mother-Child, Service of Pediatrics, Lausanne University Hospital (CHUV), Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Stéphane Leteurtre
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation Des Technologies de Santé Et Des Pratiques Médicales, 59000, Lille, France
| | - Morgan Recher
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation Des Technologies de Santé Et Des Pratiques Médicales, 59000, Lille, France
| | - David W Brossier
- Univ. Lille, CHU Lille, ULR 2694 - METRICS: Évaluation Des Technologies de Santé Et Des Pratiques Médicales, 59000, Lille, France.
- Medical School, Université Caen Normandie, 14000, Caen, France.
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, Réanimation Et Soins Intensifs Pédiatriques, CHU de CAEN, Avenue de La Côte de Nacre, 14000, Caen, France.
- CHU Sainte Justine Research Center, Montréal, Canada.
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8
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Sahli S, Størdal K. Systematic review of socioeconomic factors and COVID-19 in children and adolescents. Acta Paediatr 2024; 113:384-393. [PMID: 38193593 DOI: 10.1111/apa.17091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 12/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
AIM To systematically review the evidence on Covid-19 infection risk, severity and vaccination uptake among children and adolescents by socioeconomic status. METHODS We conducted a systematic literature review, using the PubMed database. We searched for articles published from January 2020 to January 2022 using "MeSH" words and titles. The key terms were "COVID", "social status", "socioeconomic factor" and "children". We also searched secondary sources such as published reports and other databases. RESULTS The search identified 15 relevant articles and reports. This review shows that children of lower socioeconomic status have a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and a higher risk of being hospitalised. Mortality in a global setting was also higher in children with low socioeconomic status, though not observed in high-resourced countries. These children are also less likely to be vaccinated against the SARS-CoV-2 virus. CONCLUSIONS The higher risk of COVID-19 infection and hospitalisation and lower vaccination coverage in children and adolescents from lower socioeconomic backgrounds demonstrate health disparities also in young age. These disparities should inform health authorities in planning for future pandemics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Sahli
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Ketil Størdal
- Department of Paediatric Research, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
- Division of Paediatric and Adolescent Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
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9
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Costa SDSB, Branco MDRFC, Pereira AR, Costa EM, Araújo MSM, Oliveira DCD, Oliveira BLCAD, Rangel MES, Tonello AS, Lopes DAM, Pinheiro VV, Câmara APB, Santos AMD, Vasconcelos VV. Spatial analysis of hospital-related mortality due to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil. CIENCIA & SAUDE COLETIVA 2024; 29:e19892022. [PMID: 38198339 DOI: 10.1590/1413-81232024291.19892022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 06/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
The objective was to perform a spatial analysis of the hospital mortality rate (HMR) due to severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) attributed to COVID-19 among children and adolescents in Brazil from 2020 to 2021. A cluster method was used to group federal units (FUs) based on HMR. In 2020, clusters with high HMRs were formed by north/northeast FUs. In 2021, there was a reduction in HMR. Clusters with higher rates remained in the N/NE region. Regional differences were observed in the HMR. The findings may reflect social inequalities and access to hospital care, especially in the under 1-year-old age group due to the severity of the disease in this group.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silmery da Silva Brito Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA). R. Barão de Itapary 155, Centro. 65020-070 São Luís MA Brasil.
| | | | | | - Elisa Miranda Costa
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA). R. Barão de Itapary 155, Centro. 65020-070 São Luís MA Brasil.
| | - Mayra Sharlenne Moraes Araújo
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA). R. Barão de Itapary 155, Centro. 65020-070 São Luís MA Brasil.
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Ana Patricia Barros Câmara
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA). R. Barão de Itapary 155, Centro. 65020-070 São Luís MA Brasil.
| | - Alcione Miranda Dos Santos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde Coletiva, Universidade Federal do Maranhão (UFMA). R. Barão de Itapary 155, Centro. 65020-070 São Luís MA Brasil.
| | - Vitor Vieira Vasconcelos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência e Tecnologia Ambiental, Universidade Federal do ABC. São Paulo SP Brasil
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10
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Bain V, Abramczyk ML, Costa RLS, Paixão MR, Souza Junior JLD. Pediatric COVID-19: clinical and epidemiological data of 1303 cases in a general hospital in Brazil. REVISTA PAULISTA DE PEDIATRIA : ORGAO OFICIAL DA SOCIEDADE DE PEDIATRIA DE SAO PAULO 2023; 42:e2023031. [PMID: 38126598 PMCID: PMC10742344 DOI: 10.1590/1984-0462/2024/42/2023031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This study aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of the pediatric population with COVID-19 in an Emergency Department (ED) of a Brazilian general hospital. METHODS Epidemiological and clinical data of patients younger than 20 years old were collected from patients' medical records from February 2020 to July 2021. Most of the epidemiological data described pertains to hospitalized patients. We also reviewed coinfections, treatment, and outcomes and compared the first and second waves of COVID-19. RESULTS We identified a total of 1303 episodes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. The median time from symptom onset to diagnosis was three days. Symptoms were present in 92.3% of the patients. The most common symptoms were fever (45.2%), nasal congestion/discharge (44.2%), and cough (39.4%). Chest radiography and tomography were performed in 7.7 and 3.3% of cases, with abnormal findings in 29.7 and 53.4%, respectively. Hospital admissions occurred in 3.5% of patients, mainly in the presence of comorbidities, in children under five years old and in those who presented to the ED during the first wave of COVID-19. Coinfection with a viral agent was identified in 20% of the 71 cases tested in this study, and a positive rapid test for Streptococcus pyogenes was found in 8% of the 174 cases tested, with no impact of these coinfections on hospitalization. CONCLUSIONS We found that COVID-19 was a mild disease in most children in our study population, with most hospitalizations and readmissions occurring during the first wave of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vera Bain
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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11
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Camporesi A, Vetrugno L, Buonsenso D. COVID-19 and Children: Reflections after Three Years. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 11:10. [PMID: 38275431 PMCID: PMC10814962 DOI: 10.3390/children11010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2023] [Accepted: 12/15/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Three years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, enough experience has been gained to derive reflections on the impact of SARS-CoV-2 in children [...].
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Camporesi
- Pediatric Anesthesia and Intensive Care, Vittore Buzzi Children’s Hospital, 20154 Milano, Italy
| | - Luigi Vetrugno
- Department of Medical, Oral and Biotechnological Sciences, University of Chieti-Pescara, 66100 Chieti, Italy;
| | - Danilo Buonsenso
- Department of Woman and Child Health and Public Health, Fondazione Policlinico Universitario A. Gemelli IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy;
- Centro di Salute Globale, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore, 20123 Roma, Italy
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12
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Liu J, Huang B, Li G, Huang T, Wang D, Zhang L, Deng Y, Chang X, Liu Y, Li W, Zhang S, Huang W, Tan W, Gao L. Immunogenicity and Safety of a SARS-CoV-2 Inactivated Vaccine KCONVAC in Chinese Children: Randomized, Double-blind, Placebo-controlled Phase 1 and 2 Trials. Pediatr Infect Dis J 2023; 42:1136-1142. [PMID: 37967148 DOI: 10.1097/inf.0000000000004085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND It is important to extend the indication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 vaccine to children to improve the vaccine intake rate and reduce infection in this population. METHODS In 2 phase 1 and phase 2 randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled trials, 84 and 480 Chinese healthy children 3 to 17 years old were enrolled, respectively, and randomized in 3:1 ratio to receive 2 doses of a severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 inactivated vaccine, KCONVAC or placebo. The 2 doses were given 28 days apart. Adverse events (AEs) were recorded through Day 28 after each dosing. Live virus neutralizing antibody and receptor binding domain antibody (RBD-IgG) were tested before vaccination and after the second dose. RESULTS Two doses of the vaccine, KCONVAC, elicited geometric mean titers of 142-150 for neutralizing antibody and 4154-4253 for RBD-IgG 28 days after the second dose. Seroconversion rates were 100% after 2 doses for both antibodies in both trials. The predominant AEs were injection-site pain, cough and fever. Most AEs were grade 1 or 2 in intensity. Five participants reported 6 vaccination-unrelated serious AEs in the phase 2 trial. CONCLUSIONS Two doses of this study vaccine, KCONVAC, were well tolerated and immunogenic in children 3 to 17 years of age.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiankai Liu
- From the Shenzhen Kangtai Biological Products Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Baoying Huang
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Guifan Li
- Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Tao Huang
- Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Danni Wang
- Xiangtan County for Disease Control and Prevention, Xiangtan, Hunan, China
| | - Li Zhang
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - Yao Deng
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xianyun Chang
- Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Yafei Liu
- Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Weiqi Li
- Beijing Minhai Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Beijing, China
| | - Siyuan Zhang
- Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan, China
| | - Weijin Huang
- National Institutes for Food and Drug Control, Beijing, China
| | - WenJie Tan
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Lidong Gao
- Hunan Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changsha, Hunan, China
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Mastrolia MV, De Cillia C, Orlandi M, Abu-Rumeileh S, Maccora I, Maniscalco V, Marrani E, Pagnini I, Simonini G. Clinical Syndromes Related to SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Vaccination in Pediatric Age: A Narrative Review. MEDICINA (KAUNAS, LITHUANIA) 2023; 59:2027. [PMID: 38004076 PMCID: PMC10673592 DOI: 10.3390/medicina59112027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2023] [Revised: 10/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/15/2023] [Indexed: 11/26/2023]
Abstract
This narrative review aims to report the main clinical manifestations, therapeutic strategies, outcomes, and complications of acute SARS-CoV-2 infection in childhood and to summarize the data relating the SARS-CoV-2 vaccination efficacy and safety in pediatric age. SARS-CoV-2 infection mostly occurs asymptomatically in the pediatric population, while multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) represents the most severe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-related illness, a life-threatening event with a high morbidity rate. After the development of SARS-CoV-2 vaccines and their subsequent approval in children, the rate of infection as well as the number of its related complications have shown a drastic decrease. Fully vaccinated children are protected from the risk of developing a severe disease and a similar protective role has been observed in the reduction of complications, in particular MIS-C. However, long-lasting immunity has not been demonstrated, booster doses have been required, and reinfection has been observed. With regards to vaccine safety, adverse events were generally mild to moderate in all age groups: local adverse events were the most commonly reported. Nevertheless, a potential association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccine and the subsequent development of inflammatory manifestations has been suggested. Myocarditis has rarely been observed following vaccination; it appeared to be more frequent among adolescent males with a mild clinical course leading to a complete recovery. SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related MIS-C cases have been described, although a univocal definition and an exact time interval with respect to vaccination has not been reported, thus not establishing a direct causal link. Current evidence about COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents suggest that benefits outweigh potential risks. Long-term data collection of the post-authorization safety surveillance programs will better define the real incidence of SARS-CoV-2 vaccine-related complications in the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Vincenza Mastrolia
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
- Neurofarba Department, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
| | - Camilla De Cillia
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
| | - Michela Orlandi
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
| | - Sarah Abu-Rumeileh
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
| | - Ilaria Maccora
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
- Neurofarba Department, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
| | - Valerio Maniscalco
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
- Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
| | - Edoardo Marrani
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Ilaria Pagnini
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
| | - Gabriele Simonini
- Rheumatology Unit, ERN ReCONNET Center, Meyer Children's Hospital IRCCS, 50139 Firenze, Italy
- Neurofarba Department, University of Florence, 50141 Firenze, Italy
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Schmidt CJ, Casassola GM, Affeldt GH, Morais DS, Alvarenga LKB, Miller C, Ziegler B. One-year follow-up of children hospitalized with COVID-19: a prospective cohort study. J Bras Pneumol 2023; 49:e20230151. [PMID: 37991071 PMCID: PMC10760420 DOI: 10.36416/1806-3756/e20230151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2023] [Accepted: 09/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Currently, little is known about the long-term outcomes of COVID-19 in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to investigate the long-term clinical outcomes of pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19. METHODS This was a prospective cohort study involving unvaccinated children and adolescents admitted to a tertiary hospital in southern Brazil with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Data were collected from electronic medical records for one year after the diagnosis. RESULTS A total of 66 children were included: the median age was 2.9 years; 63.6% were male; and 48.5% were under 2 years of age. Over 70% had at least one comorbidity prior to the COVID-19 diagnosis. During the one-year follow-up period, 59.1% of the children revisited the emergency department, 50% required readmission, and 15.2% died. Younger children with longer hospital stays were found to be at greater risk of readmission. Having cancer and impaired functionality were found to increase the risk of death within one year. CONCLUSIONS Our findings indicate that most children hospitalized with COVID-19 have comorbidities. Younger age at admission and a longer hospital stay seem to be risk factors for readmission. In addition, the presence of cancer and impaired functionality are apparently associated with the poor outcome of death within the first year after the diagnosis of COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Jacoby Schmidt
- . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | - Giovana Morin Casassola
- . Residente Multiprofissional em Saúde da Criança, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - HCPA - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | - Guilherme Hoff Affeldt
- . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | - Debora Sana Morais
- . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Pesquisa Clínica, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - HCPA - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | - Letícia Krás Borges Alvarenga
- . Departamento de Fisioterapia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - HCPA - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | - Cristina Miller
- . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Saúde da Criança e do Adolescente, Departamento de Fisioterapia, Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre - HCPA - Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
| | - Bruna Ziegler
- . Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Pneumológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul - UFRGS - Porto Alegre (RS) Brasil
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15
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da Silva ACCAC, Luiz RR, de Moraes JR, Rocha PHV, Zeitoune RCG, Barbosa AP, Moreira JPDL. Hospital mortality from covid-19 in children and adolescents in Brazil in 2020-2021. Rev Saude Publica 2023; 57:56. [PMID: 37878842 PMCID: PMC10519682 DOI: 10.11606/s1518-8787.2023057005172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/25/2022] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe cases, deaths, and hospital mortality from covid-19 in children and adolescents in Brazil, according to age group, during the evolving phases of the pandemic in 2020 and 2021. METHODS Census of patients aged up to 19 committed with severe acute respiratory syndrome, due to covid-19 or unspecified, notified to the Brazilian Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System, from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021. The two years were divided into six phases, covering the spread of the disease-first, second and third wave-as well as the impact of vaccination. The pediatric population was categorized into infants, preschoolers, schoolchildren, and adolescents. Hospital mortality was assessed by pandemic phase and age group. RESULTS A total of 144,041 patients were recorded in the two years, 18.2% of whom had confirmed cases of covid-19. Children under 5 years old (infants and preschoolers) accounted for 62.8% of those hospitalized. A total of 4,471 patients died, representing about 6.1 deaths per day. Infants were the ones who most progressed to the intensive care unit (24.7%) and had the highest gross number of deaths (n = 2,012), but mortality was higher among adolescents (5.7%), reaching 9.8% in phase 1. The first peak of deaths occurred in phase 1 (May/2020), and two other peaks occurred in phase 4 (March/2021 and May/2021). There was an increase in cases and deaths for younger ages since phase 4. Hospital mortality in the pediatric population was higher in phases 1, 4, and 6, following the phenomena of dissemination/interiorization of the virus in the country, beginning of the second wave and beginning of the third wave, respectively. CONCLUSION The absolute number of cases of covid-19 in children and adolescents is significant. Although complete vaccination in descending order of age provided a natural deviation in age range, there was a greater gap between the curve of new hospitalized cases and the curve of deaths, indicating the positive impact of immunization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Cilene Cruz Aguiar Castilho da Silva
- Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroEscola de Enfermagem Anna NeryRio de JaneiroRJBrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Ronir Raggio Luiz
- Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroInstituto de Saúde ColetivaRio de JaneiroRJBrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Instituto de Saúde Coletiva. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - José Rodrigo de Moraes
- Universidade Federal FluminenseInstituto de Matemática e EstatísticaDepartamento de EstatísticaNiteróiRJBrazilUniversidade Federal Fluminense. Instituto de Matemática e Estatística. Departamento de Estatística. Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Pedro Henrique Vieira Rocha
- Universidade Federal FluminenseFaculdade de FarmáciaNiteróiRJBrazilUniversidade Federal Fluminense. Faculdade de Farmácia. Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Regina Célia Gollner Zeitoune
- Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroEscola de Enfermagem Anna NeryRio de JaneiroRJBrazilUniversidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro. Escola de Enfermagem Anna Nery. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Arnaldo Prata Barbosa
- Instituto D’Or de Pesquisa e EnsinoDepartamento de PediatriaRio de JaneiroRJBrazilInstituto D’Or de Pesquisa e Ensino. Departamento de Pediatria. Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil.
| | - Jessica Pronestino de Lima Moreira
- Universidade Federal FluminenseFaculdade de FarmáciaDepartamento de BromatologiaNiteróiRJBrazilUniversidade Federal Fluminense. Faculdade de Farmácia. Departamento de Bromatologia. Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
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Lishman J, Abraham DR, Fourie B, Yunis NA, Redfern A, van der Zalm MM, Rabie H. Short-term outcomes of South African children with multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children: a prospective cohort study. Arch Dis Child 2023; 108:792-798. [PMID: 37236771 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-325287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2023] [Accepted: 05/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Despite the life-threatening presentation of multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), the overall prognosis is favourable in centres with access to appropriate supportive care. In this study, we investigate the short-term outcomes in children with MIS-C in Cape Town, South Africa. METHODS This prospective observational cohort study included children <13 years who fulfilled the WHO case definition of MIS-C and were admitted to Tygerberg Hospital in Cape Town, South Africa between 1 June 2020 and 31 October 2021. Clinical features were recorded at baseline and at follow-up at the 6-week cardiology and 3-month rheumatology-immunology clinics, respectively. FINDINGS Fifty-three children with a median age of 7.4 years (IQR 4.2-9.9) were included. There was a slight male predominance (30/53; 56.6%) and the majority was of mixed ancestry (28/53; 52.83%) or black African ancestry (24/53; 45.3%). Fourteen children (14/53; 26.4%) had comorbid disease. The median length of hospital stay was 8 days (IQR 6-10). All children had an echocardiogram performed at baseline of which 39 were abnormal (39/53; 73.6%). All children were discharged alive. The median days from discharge to cardiology follow-up was 39 days (IQR 33.5-41.5) and for rheumatology-immunology clinic was 70.5 days (IQR 59.5-85.0). Eleven children (11/41; 26.8%) had a persistently abnormal echocardiogram at cardiology follow-up. Systemic inflammation and organ dysfunction resolved in most. INTERPRETATION Although the short-term outcomes of MIS-C in our cohort were generally good, the cardiac morbidity needs further characterisation and follow-up.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juanita Lishman
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Deepthi Raju Abraham
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Barend Fourie
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Nurea Abdulbari Yunis
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Andrew Redfern
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Marieke M van der Zalm
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Helena Rabie
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
- Paediatrics and Child Health, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, Western Cape, South Africa
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Thakkar K, Spinardi JR, Yang J, Kyaw MH, Ozbilgili E, Mendoza CF, Oh HML. Impact of vaccination and non-pharmacological interventions on COVID-19: a review of simulation modeling studies in Asia. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1252719. [PMID: 37818298 PMCID: PMC10560858 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1252719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/07/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction Epidemiological modeling is widely used to offer insights into the COVID-19 pandemic situation in Asia. We reviewed published computational (mathematical/simulation) models conducted in Asia that assessed impacts of pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions against COVID-19 and their implications for vaccination strategy. Methods A search of the PubMed database for peer-reviewed, published, and accessible articles in English was performed up to November 2022 to capture studies in Asian populations based on computational modeling of outcomes in the COVID-19 pandemic. Extracted data included model type (mechanistic compartmental/agent-based, statistical, both), intervention type (pharmacological, non-pharmacological), and procedures for parameterizing age. Findings are summarized with descriptive statistics and discussed in terms of the evolving COVID-19 situation. Results The literature search identified 378 results, of which 59 met criteria for data extraction. China, Japan, and South Korea accounted for approximately half of studies, with fewer from South and South-East Asia. Mechanistic models were most common, either compartmental (61.0%), agent-based (1.7%), or combination (18.6%) models. Statistical modeling was applied less frequently (11.9%). Pharmacological interventions were examined in 59.3% of studies, and most considered vaccination, except one study of an antiviral treatment. Non-pharmacological interventions were also considered in 84.7% of studies. Infection, hospitalization, and mortality were outcomes in 91.5%, 30.5%, and 30.5% of studies, respectively. Approximately a third of studies accounted for age, including 10 that also examined mortality. Four of these studies emphasized benefits in terms of mortality from prioritizing older adults for vaccination under conditions of a limited supply; however, one study noted potential benefits to infection rates from early vaccination of younger adults. Few studies (5.1%) considered the impact of vaccination among children. Conclusion Early in the COVID-19 pandemic, non-pharmacological interventions helped to mitigate the health burden of COVID-19; however, modeling indicates that high population coverage of effective vaccines will complement and reduce reliance on such interventions. Thus, increasing and maintaining immunity levels in populations through regular booster shots, particularly among at-risk and vulnerable groups, including older adults, might help to protect public health. Future modeling efforts should consider new vaccines and alternative therapies alongside an evolving virus in populations with varied vaccination histories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karan Thakkar
- Vaccine Medical Affairs, Emerging Markets, Pfizer Inc., Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Jingyan Yang
- Vaccine Global Value and Access, Pfizer Inc., New York, NY, United States
| | - Moe H. Kyaw
- Vaccine Medical Affairs, Emerging Markets, Pfizer Inc., Reston, VA, United States
| | - Egemen Ozbilgili
- Asia Cluster Medical Affairs, Emerging Markets, Pfizer Inc., Singapore, Singapore
| | | | - Helen May Lin Oh
- Department of Infectious Diseases, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
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Ye J, He L, Beestrum M. Implications for implementation and adoption of telehealth in developing countries: a systematic review of China's practices and experiences. NPJ Digit Med 2023; 6:174. [PMID: 37723237 PMCID: PMC10507083 DOI: 10.1038/s41746-023-00908-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The rapid advancement of telehealth technologies has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, especially in developing countries and resource-limited settings. Telehealth played a vital role during the COVID-19 pandemic, supporting numerous healthcare services. We conducted a systematic review to gain insights into the characteristics, barriers, and successful experiences in implementing telehealth during the COVID-19 pandemic in China, a representative of the developing countries. We also provide insights for other developing countries that face similar challenges to developing and using telehealth during or after the pandemic. This systematic review was conducted through searching five prominent databases including PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science. We included studies clearly defining any use of telehealth services in all aspects of health care during the COVID-19 pandemic in China. We mapped the barriers, successful experiences, and recommendations based on the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR). A total of 32 studies met the inclusion criteria. Successfully implementing and adopting telehealth in China during the pandemic necessitates strategic planning across aspects at society level (increasing public awareness and devising appropriate insurance policies), organizational level (training health care professionals, improving workflows, and decentralizing tasks), and technological level (strategic technological infrastructure development and designing inclusive telehealth systems). WeChat, a widely used social networking platform, was the most common platform used for telehealth services. China's practices in addressing the barriers may provide implications and evidence for other developing countries or low-and middle- income countries (LMICs) to implement and adopt telehealth systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiancheng Ye
- Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA.
| | - Lu He
- Zilber College of Public Health, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Molly Beestrum
- Galter Health Sciences Library and Learning Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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Peixoto PH, Silva ML, Portela FV, da Silva B, Milanez E, de Oliveira D, Ribeiro A, de Almeida H, Lima-Neto R, Guedes GM, Castelo-Branco D, Cordeiro R. Clinical, Epidemiological and Laboratory Features of Invasive Candida parapsilosis Complex Infections in a Brazilian Pediatric Reference Hospital during the COVID-19 Pandemic. J Fungi (Basel) 2023; 9:844. [PMID: 37623615 PMCID: PMC10456047 DOI: 10.3390/jof9080844] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The present study aimed to describe the clinical, epidemiological and laboratory characteristics of invasive candidiasis by C. parapsilosis complex (CPC) in a Brazilian tertiary pediatric hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clinical samples were processed in the BACT/ALERT® 3D system or on agar plates. Definitive identification was achieved by MALDI-TOF MS. Antifungal susceptibility was initially analyzed by the VITEK 2 system (AST-YS08 card) and confirmed by the CLSI protocol. Patient data were collected from the medical records using a structured questionnaire. CPC was recovered from 124 patients over an 18-month period, as follows: C. parapsilosis (83.87%), C. orthopsilosis (13.71%) and C. metapsilosis (2.42%). Antifungal resistance was not detected. The age of the patients with invasive CPC infections ranged from <1 to 18 years, and most of them came from oncology-related sectors, as these patients were more affected by C. parapsilosis. C. orthopsilosis infections were significantly more prevalent in patients from critical care units. Invasive infections caused by different pathogens occurred in 75 patients up to 30 days after the recovery of CPC isolates. Overall, 23 (18.55%) patients died within 30 days of CPC diagnosis. Catheter removal and antifungal therapy were important measures to prevent mortality. COVID-19 coinfection was only detected in one patient.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paulo Henrique Peixoto
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Maria Laína Silva
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Fernando Victor Portela
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Bruno da Silva
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Edlâny Milanez
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Denis de Oliveira
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Aldaíza Ribeiro
- Albert Sabin Children Hospital, Fortaleza 60410-794, Brazil;
| | - Henrique de Almeida
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil; (H.d.A.); (R.L.-N.)
| | - Reginaldo Lima-Neto
- Department of Tropical Medicine, Federal University of Pernambuco, Recife 50670-901, Brazil; (H.d.A.); (R.L.-N.)
| | - Glaucia Morgana Guedes
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Débora Castelo-Branco
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
| | - Rossana Cordeiro
- Department of Pathology and Legal Medicine, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza 60430-160, Brazil; (P.H.P.); (M.L.S.); (F.V.P.); (B.d.S.); (E.M.); (D.d.O.); (G.M.G.); (D.C.-B.)
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20
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Hart JD, Ong DS, Chokephaibulkit K, Ong-Lim AT, Vereti I, Crawford NW, Russell F. Considerations for vaccinating children against COVID-19. BMJ Paediatr Open 2023; 7:e001964. [PMID: 37487674 PMCID: PMC10373744 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2023-001964] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 07/26/2023] Open
Abstract
COVID-19 vaccines have been introduced in children and adolescents in many countries. However, high levels of community transmission and infection-derived immunity make the decision to introduce COVID-19 vaccination of children in countries yet to do so particularly challenging. For example, other vaccine preventable diseases, including measles and polio, generally have far higher childhood morbidity and mortality in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) than COVID-19, and coverage with these vaccines has declined during the pandemic. Many countries are yet to introduce pneumococcal conjugate and rotavirus vaccines for children, which prevent common causes of childhood death, or human papillomavirus vaccine for adolescents. The Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines that have been widely tested in children and adolescents have a positive risk-benefit profile. However, the benefit is less compared with other life-saving vaccines in this age group, particularly in LMICs and settings with widespread infection-derived immunity. The resources required for rollout may also pose a considerable challenge in LMICs. In this paper, we describe COVID-19 in children, with a focus on LMICs, and summarise the published literature on safety, efficacy and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents. We highlight the complexity of decision-making regarding COVID-19 vaccination of children now that most of this low-risk population benefit from infection-derived immunity. We emphasise that at-risk groups should be prioritised for COVID-19 vaccination; and that if COVID-19 vaccines are introduced for children, the opportunity should be taken to improve coverage of routine childhood vaccines and preventative healthcare. Additionally, we highlight the paucity of epidemiological data in LMICs, and that for future epidemics, measures need to be taken to ensure equitable access to safe and efficacious vaccines before exposure to infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- John D Hart
- Infection, Immunity and Global Health Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Darren Suryawijaya Ong
- Infection, Immunity and Global Health Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit
- Siriraj Institute of Clinical Research, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
- Department of Paediatrics, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Anna T Ong-Lim
- Division of Infectious and Tropical Disease in Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Philippine General Hospital, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Ilisapeci Vereti
- Department of Paediatrics, Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Suva, Fiji
| | - Nigel W Crawford
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- General Medicine, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Fiona Russell
- Infection, Immunity and Global Health Theme, Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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21
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Goussard P, Venkatakrishna S, Frigati L, Janson J, Schubert P, Verster J, Gie AG, Myburgh C, Parker N, Plooy ED, Rhode D, Bekker C, Andronikou S, Rabie H, van der Zalm MM. Chronic lung disease in children due to SARS-CoV-2 pneumonia: Case series. Pediatr Pulmonol 2023; 58:2111-2123. [PMID: 37133220 PMCID: PMC10424808 DOI: 10.1002/ppul.26440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
The reported prevalence of chronic lung disease (CLD) due to coronavirus 2 (severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 [SARS-CoV-2)]) pneumonia with the severe acute respiratory syndrome in children is unknown and rarely reported in English literature. In contrast to most other respiratory viruses, children generally have less severe symptoms when infected with SARS-CoV-2. Although only a minority of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection require hospitalization, severe cases have been reported. More severe SARS-CoV-2 respiratory disease in infants has been reported in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) compared to high-income countries (HICs). We describe our experience of five cases of CLD in children due to SARS-CoV-2 collected between April 2020 and August 2022. We included children who had a history of a positive SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or antigen test or a positive antibody test in the serum. Three patterns of CLD related to SARS-CoV-2 were identified: (1) CLD in infants postventilation for severe pneumonia (n = 3); (2) small airway disease with bronchiolitis obliterans picture (n = 1) and (3) adolescent with adult-like post-SARS-CoV-2 disease (n = 1). Chest computerized tomography scans showed airspace disease and ground-glass opacities involving both lungs with the development of coarse interstitial markings seen in four patients, reflecting the long-term fibrotic consequences of diffuse alveolar damage that occur in children post-SARS-CoV-2 infection. Children with SARS-CoV-2 infection mostly have mild symptoms with little to no long-term sequelae, but the severe long-term respiratory disease can develop.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pierre Goussard
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Shyam Venkatakrishna
- Department of Paediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Lisa Frigati
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Jacques Janson
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Stellenbosch University, and Tygerberg Hospital, Tygerberg, South Africa
| | - Pawel Schubert
- Division of Anatomical Pathology, Tygerberg Hospital, National Health Laboratory Service, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Janette Verster
- Division of Forensic Medicine, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University and Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Andre G. Gie
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Chantelle Myburgh
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Noor Parker
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Elri Du Plooy
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Delano Rhode
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Carien Bekker
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Savvas Andronikou
- Department of Paediatric Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Department of Radiology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Helena Rabie
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Marieke M. van der Zalm
- Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Tygerberg Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa
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22
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Jarovsky D, de Freitas Fongaro G, Zampol RM, de Oliveira TA, Farias CGA, da Silva DGBP, Cavalcante DTG, Nery SB, de Moraes JC, de Oliveira FI, Almeida FJ, Sáfadi MAP. Characteristics and clinical outcomes of COVID-19 in children: a hospital-based surveillance study in Latin America's hardest-hit city. IJID REGIONS 2023; 7:52-62. [PMID: 36536932 PMCID: PMC9753484 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijregi.2022.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Revised: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND In 2020, Brazil became the epicentre of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic in Latin America, resulting in an unparalleled health catastrophe. Nevertheless, comprehensive clinical reports in Brazilian children are not available. METHODS This retrospective, hospital-based, active surveillance study was performed to identify paediatric patients with COVID-19 who presented at a private academic medical centre in a large urban area between March 2020 and March 2021. Clinical and demographic information was analysed for those requiring hospitalization, those with severe illness and those with clinical syndromes. RESULTS In total, 964 symptomatic cases were evaluated; of these, 17.7% required hospitalization, and 27.5% of hospitalized cases were classified as severe/critical. Acute bronchiolitis and pneumonia were the most common causes of hospitalization among the severe cases. Twenty-seven hospitalized children fulfilled the diagnostic criteria for multi-system inflammatory syndrome (median age 29 months; 85.2% cases were non-severe). A significant co-existing condition was present in 29% of hospitalized children. The risk of hospitalization was higher in children with at least one comorbidity, children aged <2 years and obese children. Increased risk of severe disease was described among those with leukopenia, leukocytosis or any significant comorbidity. No deaths occurred among the study population. CONCLUSION Although most children with COVID-19 experienced mild disease, and no deaths occurred among the study population, a significant proportion of cases required hospitalization and developed severe illness. Obesity, young age, underlying comorbidity, leukopenia and leukocytosis were risk factors for hospitalization or severe disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Jarovsky
- Hospital Infantil Sabará, São Paulo, Brazil
- Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Flávia Jacqueline Almeida
- Hospital Infantil Sabará, São Paulo, Brazil
- Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Marco Aurélio Palazzi Sáfadi
- Hospital Infantil Sabará, São Paulo, Brazil
- Santa Casa de São Paulo School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
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23
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Gupta V, Singh A, Ganju S, Singh R, Thiruvengadam R, Natchu UCM, Gupta N, Kaushik D, Chanana S, Sharma D, Gosain M, Rao SP, Pandey N, Gupta A, Singh S, Jhamb U, Annayappa Venkatesh L, Dinakar C, Pandey AK, Gera R, Chellani H, Wadhwa N, Bhatnagar S. Severity and mortality associated with COVID-19 among children hospitalised in tertiary care centres in India: a cohort study. THE LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. SOUTHEAST ASIA 2023; 13:100203. [PMID: 37159588 PMCID: PMC10110927 DOI: 10.1016/j.lansea.2023.100203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Background It is critical to identify high-risk groups among children with COVID-19 from low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs) to facilitate the optimum use of health system resources. The study aims to describe the severity and mortality of different clinical phenotypes of COVID-19 in a large cohort of children admitted to tertiary care hospitals in India. Methods Children aged 0-19 years with evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection (real time polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen test positive) or exposure (anti-SARS-CoV-2 antibody, or history of contact with SARS-CoV-2) were enrolled in the study, between January 2021 and March 2022 across five tertiary hospitals in India. All study participants enrolled prospectively and retrospectively were followed up for three months after discharge. COVID-19 was classified into severe (Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), severe acute COVID-19, 'unclassified') or non-severe disease. The mortality rates were estimated in different phenotypes. Findings Among 2468 eligible children enrolled, 2148 were hospitalised. Signs of illness were present in 1688 (79%) children with 1090 (65%) having severe disease. High mortality was reported in MIS-C (18.6%), severe acute COVID-19 (13.3%) and the unclassified severe COVID-19 disease (12.3%). Mortality remained high (17.5%) when modified MIS-C criteria was used. Non-severe COVID-19 disease had 14.1% mortality when associated with comorbidity. Interpretation Our findings have important public health implications for low resource settings. The high mortality underscores the need for better preparedness for timely diagnosis and management of COVID-19. Children with associated comorbidity or coinfections are a vulnerable group and need special attention. MIS-C requires context specific diagnostic criteria for low resource settings. It is important to evaluate the clinical, epidemiological and health system-related risk factors associated with severe COVID-19 and mortality in children from LMICs. Funding Department of Biotechnology, Govt of India and Department of Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Aging, WHO, Geneva, Switzerland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vidushi Gupta
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India
| | - Amitabh Singh
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC & SJH), New Delhi, India
| | - Sheetal Ganju
- Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, India
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS)-Jammu, Vijaypur, Jammu, India
| | - Raghvendra Singh
- Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lok Nayak Hospital (MAMC & LNH), New Delhi, India
| | - Ramachandran Thiruvengadam
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India
- Pondicherry Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Puducherry, India
| | | | - Nitesh Gupta
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC & SJH), New Delhi, India
| | - Deepali Kaushik
- Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, India
| | - Surbhi Chanana
- Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, India
| | - Dharmendra Sharma
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India
| | - Mudita Gosain
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India
| | - Suman Pn Rao
- St. John's Medical College and Research Institute (SJRI), Bengaluru, India
| | - Narendra Pandey
- Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (ASIAN), Faridabad, India
| | - Arvind Gupta
- Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (ASIAN), Faridabad, India
| | - Sandeep Singh
- Asian Institute of Medical Sciences (ASIAN), Faridabad, India
| | - Urmila Jhamb
- Maulana Azad Medical College, and Lok Nayak Hospital (MAMC & LNH), New Delhi, India
| | | | - Chitra Dinakar
- St. John's Medical College and Research Institute (SJRI), Bengaluru, India
| | - Anil Kumar Pandey
- Employees' State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) Medical College and Hospital, Faridabad, India
| | - Rani Gera
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC & SJH), New Delhi, India
| | - Harish Chellani
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital (VMMC & SJH), New Delhi, India
| | - Nitya Wadhwa
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India
| | - Shinjini Bhatnagar
- Translational Health Science and Technology Institute (THSTI), Faridabad, India
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Sharma V, Chhabra T, Singh TG. Correlation of covid-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome: A Mechanistic Perspective. OBESITY MEDICINE 2023; 40:100493. [PMID: 37131407 PMCID: PMC10091783 DOI: 10.1016/j.obmed.2023.100493] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Aims Coronaviruses, SARS-CoV-2 particles are spherical and have proteins called spikes that stick out on the surface. COVID-19 most commonly affects the respiratory system, but various clinical manifestations on coronavirus have revealed their potential neurotropism. The neuroinvasive affinity of Coronavirus infections has been reported nearly for all the β Coronavirus infections, including MERS-CoV, SARS-CoV, HCoV-OC43 and HEV. Coronavirus invasion occurs through hypoxia injury, immune injury, ACE2, and direct infection. The pathophysiology of SARS-CoV-2 and other human Coronaviruses reveals the possible mechanisms of neurodegeneration. Methods A systematic literature review carried out from various search engines like Scopus, PubMed, Medline, and Elsevier for investigating the therapeutic perspective of association between Covid-19 and Guillain-Barré syndrome. Results SARS-CoV-2 uses angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 as its entry receptor and enters the central nervous system through a Blood-brain barrier constituted of inflammatory mediators, direct infection of the endothelial cells, or endothelial injury. Guillain-Barré syndrome is an autoimmune disease that injures and attacks the nerves in the peripheral nervous system. Studies suggest that the virus can infect peripheral neurons to cause direct damage through various mechanisms, including direct damage by cytokine-related injury, ACE2 receptors, and the sequelae of hypoxia. Conclusion we have discussed the possible mechanisms between neuroinvasion of SARs-cov2 and Guillain-barre syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veerta Sharma
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, 140401, India
| | - Tarun Chhabra
- Chitkara College of Pharmacy, Chitkara University, Punjab, 140401, India
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Alemu D, Diribsa T, Debelew GT. COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy and Its Associated Factors Among Adolescents. Patient Prefer Adherence 2023; 17:1271-1280. [PMID: 37214557 PMCID: PMC10199707 DOI: 10.2147/ppa.s400972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Currently, COVID-19 disease is a major public health issue that affects a large number of people worldwide. The COVID-19 vaccine is one of the best preventative measures. Adolescents between the ages of 12 and 17 are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. The COVID-19 pandemic cannot be stopped if people are reluctant to use this vaccine. However, the extent of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and related variables among adolescents are not well understood. Objectives To assess the magnitude of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy and its associated factors among adolescents in Seka Chekorsa town, Jimma, Ethiopia. Methods Institutional-based cross-sectional study employing both qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The study participants were selected using a simple random sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questions. Data collected was checked for completeness and entered into EPI data version 3.1. Finally, data were exported to SPSS version 25 for further analysis. The bivariate analysis was used to identify variables eligible for multivariate logistic regressions. In a multivariable analysis to identify factors that have statistically significant association, a p value less than 0.05 and a 95% confidence interval were used. The qualitative data were triangulated with quantitative data. Results In this study, 379 adolescents were participated, yielding a response rate of 95.2%. The magnitude of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents was 29% (95% CI: 24.3-33.5%). Being female (AOR = 1.89, 95%, 1.81-3.56), primary education (AOR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.26-3.56), source information from social media (AOR = 2.42, 95% CI: 1.06-5.57), poor knowledge about COVID-19 disease (AOR = 3.18, 95% CI: 1.66-6.12), unfavorable attitude (AOR = 5.2, 95% CI: 2.76-9.79) and poor knowledge towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 5.66, 95% CI, 2.91-11.0) were associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents. Conclusion This study shows that COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among adolescents is very high. Being female, poor knowledge towards COVID-19 disease and the vaccine, an unfavorable attitude and social media were factors significantly associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawit Alemu
- Department of Population and Family Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Tujuba Diribsa
- Department of Population and Family Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Gurmesa Tura Debelew
- Department of Population and Family Health, Institute of Health, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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Jara A, Undurraga EA, Flores JC, Zubizarreta JR, González C, Pizarro A, Ortuño-Borroto D, Acevedo J, Leo K, Paredes F, Bralic T, Vergara V, Leon F, Parot I, Leighton P, Suárez P, Rios JC, García-Escorza H, Araos R. Effectiveness of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in children and adolescents: a large-scale observational study. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2023; 21:100487. [PMID: 37155483 PMCID: PMC10117174 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2023.100487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 03/22/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Background Policymakers urgently need evidence to adequately balance the costs and benefits of mass vaccination against COVID-19 across all age groups, including children and adolescents. In this study, we aim to assess the effectiveness of CoronaVac's primary series among children and adolescents in Chile. Methods We used a large prospective national cohort of about two million children and adolescents 6-16 years to estimate the effectiveness of an inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine (CoronaVac) in preventing laboratory-confirmed symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection (COVID-19), hospitalisation, and admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) associated with COVID-19. We compared the risk of individuals treated with a complete primary immunization schedule (two doses, 28 days apart) with the risk of unvaccinated individuals during the follow-up period. The study was conducted in Chile from June 27, 2021, to January 12, 2022, when the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant was predominant but other variants of concern were co-circulating, including Omicron. We used inverse probability-weighted survival regression models to estimate hazard ratios of complete immunization over the unvaccinated status, accounting for time-varying vaccination exposure and adjusting for relevant demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical confounders. Findings The estimated adjusted vaccine effectiveness for the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine in children aged 6-16 years was 74.5% (95% CI, 73.8-75.2), 91.0% (95% CI, 87.8-93.4), 93.8% (95% CI, 87.8-93.4) for the prevention of COVID-19, hospitalisation, and ICU admission, respectively. For the subgroup of children 6-11 years, the vaccine effectiveness was 75.8% (95% CI, 74.7-76.8) for the prevention of COVID-19 and 77.9% (95% CI, 61.5-87.3) for the prevention of hospitalisation. Interpretation Our results suggest that a complete primary immunization schedule with the inactivated SARS-CoV-2 vaccine provides effective protection against severe COVID-19 disease for children 6-16 years. Funding Agencia Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo (ANID) Millennium Science Initiative Program and Fondo de Financiamiento de Centros de Investigación en Áreas Prioritarias (FONDAP).
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Jara
- Ministry of Health, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Matemáticas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
- Center for the Discovery of Structures in Complex Data (MiDaS), Santiago, Chile
| | - Eduardo A Undurraga
- Escuela de Gobierno, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, RM, Chile
- Initiative for Collaborative Research in Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Research Center for Integrated Disaster Risk Management (CIGIDEN), Santiago, Chile
- CIFAR Azrieli Global Scholars Program, CIFAR, Toronto, Canada
| | - Juan Carlos Flores
- Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - José R Zubizarreta
- Department of Health Care Policy, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Statistics, Harvard T.H. School of Public Health, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Alejandra Pizarro
- Ministry of Health, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Juan Carlos Rios
- Ministry of Health, Santiago, Chile
- Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | | | - Rafael Araos
- Ministry of Health, Santiago, Chile
- Initiative for Collaborative Research in Bacterial Resistance (MICROB-R), Santiago, Chile
- Instituto de Ciencias e Innovación en Medicina, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad del Desarrollo, Santiago, Chile
- Advanced Center for Chronic Diseases (ACCDiS), Santiago, Chile
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Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Three years into the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, data on pediatric COVID-19 from African settings is limited. Understanding the impact of the pandemic in this setting with a high burden of communicable and noncommunicable diseases is critical to implementing effective interventions in public health programs. RECENT FINDINGS More severe COVID-19 has been reported in African settings, with especially infants and children with underlying comorbidities at highest risk for more severe disease. Data on the role of tuberculosis and HIV remain sparse. Compared to better resourced settings more children with multisystem inflammatory disease (MISC) are younger than 5 years and there is higher morbidity in all settings and increased mortality in some settings. Several reports suggest decreasing prevalence and severity of MIS-C disease with subsequent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) variant waves. Whether this decrease continues remains to be determined. Thus far, data on long-COVID in African settings is lacking and urgently needed considering the severity of the disease seen in the African population. SUMMARY Considering the differences seen in the severity of disease and short-term outcomes, there is an urgent need to establish long-term outcomes in children with COVID-19 and MIS-C in African children, including lung health assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marieke M. van der Zalm
- Desmond Tutu TB Centre, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Daniele Dona’
- Division of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Helena Rabie
- Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
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Mustafa ZUI, Khan AH, Harun SN, Salman M, Godman B. Antibiotic Overprescribing among Neonates and Children Hospitalized with COVID-19 in Pakistan and the Implications. Antibiotics (Basel) 2023; 12:646. [PMID: 37107008 PMCID: PMC10135218 DOI: 10.3390/antibiotics12040646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
There are concerns with excessive antibiotic prescribing among patients admitted to hospital with COVID-19, increasing antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Most studies have been conducted in adults with limited data on neonates and children, including in Pakistan. A retrospective study was conducted among four referral/tertiary care hospitals, including the clinical manifestations, laboratory findings, the prevalence of bacterial co-infections or secondary bacterial infections and antibiotics prescribed among neonates and children hospitalized due to COVID-19. Among 1237 neonates and children, 511 were admitted to the COVID-19 wards and 433 were finally included in the study. The majority of admitted children were COVID-19-positive (85.9%) with severe COVID-19 (38.2%), and 37.4% were admitted to the ICU. The prevalence of bacterial co-infections or secondary bacterial infections was 3.7%; however, 85.5% were prescribed antibiotics during their hospital stay (average 1.70 ± 0.98 antibiotics per patient). Further, 54.3% were prescribed two antibiotics via the parenteral route (75.5%) for ≤5 days (57.5), with most being 'Watch' antibiotics (80.4%). Increased antibiotic prescribing was reported among patients requiring mechanical ventilation and high WBCs, CRP, D-dimer and ferritin levels (p < 0.001). Increased COVID-19 severity, length of stay and hospital setting were significantly associated with antibiotic prescribing (p < 0.001). Excessive antibiotic prescribing among hospitalized neonates and children, despite very low bacterial co-infections or secondary bacterial infections, requires urgent attention to reduce AMR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zia UI Mustafa
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Penang, Malaysia
- Department of Pharmacy Services, District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, Pakpattan 57400, Pakistan
| | - Amer Hayat Khan
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Sabariah Noor Harun
- Discipline of Clinical Pharmacy, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Gelugor 11800, Penang, Malaysia
| | - Muhammad Salman
- Institute of Pharmacy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical and Allied Health Sciences, Lahore College for Women University, Lahore 54000, Pakistan
| | - Brian Godman
- Strathclyde Institute of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science (SIPBS), University of Strathclyde, Glasgow G4 0RE, UK
- Department of Public Health Pharmacy and Management, School of Pharmacy, Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University, Pretoria 0208, South Africa
- Centre of Medical and Bio-Allied Health Sciences Research, Ajman University, Ajman P.O. Box 346, United Arab Emirates
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da Fonseca Lima EJ, Leite RD. COVID-19 vaccination in children: a public health priority. J Pediatr (Rio J) 2023; 99 Suppl 1:S28-S36. [PMID: 36564007 PMCID: PMC9767816 DOI: 10.1016/j.jped.2022.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 11/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Covid-19 had a direct impact on children's health. The aim of this review was to analyze epidemiological and clinical data, the consequences of the pandemic, and vaccination aspects in this group. SOURCES OF DATA The searches were carried out from January 2020 to November 2022, in the MEDLINE databases (PubMed) and publications of the Brazilian Ministry of Health and the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS Covid-19 has a mild presentation in most children; however, the infection can progress to the severe form and, in some cases, to MIS-C. The prevalence of the so-called long Covid in children was 25.24%. Moreover, several indirect impacts occurred on the health of children and adolescents. Vaccination played a crucial role in enabling the reduction of severe disease and mortality rates. Children and adolescents, as a special population, were excluded from the initial clinical trials and, therefore, vaccination was introduced later in this group. Despite its importance, there have been difficulties in the efficient implementation of vaccination in the pediatric population. The CoronaVac vaccines are authorized in Brazil for children over three years of age and the pediatric presentations of the Pfizer vaccine have shown significant effectiveness and safety. CONCLUSIONS Covid-19 in the pediatric age group was responsible for the illness and deaths of a significant number of children. For successful immunization, major barriers have to be overcome. Real-world data on the safety and efficacy of several pediatric vaccines is emphasized, and the authors need a uniform message about the importance of immunization for all children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo Jorge da Fonseca Lima
- Instituto de Medicina Integral Prof. Fernando Figueira (IMIP), Recife, PE, Brazil; Faculdade Pernambucana de Saúde (FPS), Recife, PE, Brazil.
| | - Robério Dias Leite
- Universidade Federal do Ceará, Departamento de Saúde da Mulher, da Criança e do Adolescente, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil; Hospital São José de Doenças Infecciosas da Secretaria de Saúde do Estado do Ceará, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
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Fabrin C, Boing AC, Garcia LP, Boing AF. Socioeconomic inequality in hospital case fatality rate and care among children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 in Brazil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2023; 26:e230015. [PMID: 36820752 PMCID: PMC9949490 DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720230015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To analyze the association of hospital case fatality rate and care received by children and adolescents hospitalized for COVID-19 with the gross domestic product (GDP) per capita of Brazilian municipalities and regions of residence. METHODS Data were collected from the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System and the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics. The dichotomous outcomes analyzed were hospital case fatality rate of COVID-19, biological samples collected for COVID-19 diagnosis, X-rays, computed tomography (CT) scans, use of ventilatory support, and intensive care unit hospitalization. The covariates were municipal GDP per capita and the Brazilian region of residence. Poisson regression was used for the outcomes recorded in 2020 and 2021 in Brazil, covering the two COVID-19 waves in the country, adjusted for age and gender. RESULTS The hospital case fatality rate was 7.6%. In municipalities with lower GDP per capita deciles, the case fatality rate was almost four times higher among children and twice as high in adolescents compared to cities with higher deciles. Additionally, residents of municipalities with lower GDP per capita had fewer biological samples collected for diagnosis, X-ray examinations, and CT scans. We found regional disparities associated with case fatality rate, with worse indicators in the North and Northeast regions. The findings remained consistent over the two COVID-19 waves. CONCLUSION Municipalities with lower GDP per capita, as well as the North and Northeast regions, had worse indicators of hospital case fatality rate and care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caroline Fabrin
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Graduate Program in Collective Health – Florianópolis (SC), Brazil
| | - Alexandra Crispim Boing
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Graduate Program in Collective Health – Florianópolis (SC), Brazil
| | | | - Antonio Fernando Boing
- Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Graduate Program in Collective Health – Florianópolis (SC), Brazil
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Pereira AR, Branco MDRFC, Costa SDSB, Lopes DAM, Pinheiro VV, de Oliveira DC, Pasklan ANP, Gomes JA, dos Santos AM, Gama MEA. COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome in Brazilian newborns in 2020-2021. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2023; 26:e230012. [PMID: 36820749 PMCID: PMC9949484 DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720230012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2022] [Accepted: 11/23/2022] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To describe the clinical characteristics of cases of COVID-19 severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Brazilian newborns (NBs) in 2020 and 2021, recorded in the Influenza Epidemiological Surveillance Information System (Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe - SIVEP-Gripe). METHODS The variables analyzed were gender, race/skin color, hospitalization, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, use of ventilatory support, signs and symptoms (fever, cough, O2 saturation<95%, dyspnea, respiratory distress, diarrhea, and vomiting), progress (death or cure), risk factors/comorbidities. Categorical variables were expressed as absolute and relative frequencies. RESULTS We found 1,649 records of COVID-19 SARS in NBs, with a predominance of multiracial babies in both years. The most frequent symptoms in 2020 and 2021 were, respectively: respiratory distress (67.0 and 69.7%), fever (46.3 and 46.2%), and cough (37.0 and 46.3%). In 2020, 30.5% of patients received invasive ventilatory support; in 2021, this number was 41.6%. In addition, more than 55% of cases required ICU admission, and over 16% died. CONCLUSION We emphasize the high proportion of cases that required intensive care and progressed to death.
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Naeimi R, Sepidarkish M, Mollalo A, Parsa H, Mahjour S, Safarpour F, Almukhtar M, Mechaal A, Chemaitelly H, Sartip B, Marhoommirzabak E, Ardekani A, Hotez PJ, Gasser RB, Rostami A. SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence in children worldwide: A systematic review and meta-analysis. EClinicalMedicine 2023; 56:101786. [PMID: 36590788 PMCID: PMC9795163 DOI: 10.1016/j.eclinm.2022.101786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2022] [Revised: 11/28/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The higher hospitalisation rates of those aged 0-19 years (referred to herein as 'children') observed since the emergence of the immune-evasive SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant and subvariants, along with the persisting vaccination disparities highlighted a need for in-depth knowledge of SARS-CoV-2 sero-epidemiology in children. Here, we conducted this systematic review to assess SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and determinants in children worldwide. Methods In this systematic review and meta-analysis study, we searched international and preprinted scientific databases from December 1, 2019 to July 10, 2022. Pooled seroprevalences were estimated according to World Health Organization (WHO) regions (at 95% confidence intervals, CIs) using random-effects meta-analyses. Associations with SARS-CoV-2 seroprevalence and sources of heterogeneity were investigated using sub-group and meta-regression analyses. The protocol used in this study has been registered in PROSPERO (CRD42022350833). Findings We included 247 studies involving 757,075 children from 70 countries. Seroprevalence estimates varied from 7.3% (5.8-9.1%) in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic to 37.6% (18.1-59.4%) in the fifth wave and 56.6% (52.8-60.5%) in the sixth wave. The highest seroprevalences in different pandemic waves were estimated for South-East Asia (17.9-81.8%) and African (17.2-66.1%) regions; while the lowest seroprevalence was estimated for the Western Pacific region (0.01-1.01%). Seroprevalence estimates were higher in children at older ages, in those living in underprivileged countries or regions, and in those of minority ethnic backgrounds. Interpretation Our findings indicate that, by the end of 2021 and before the Omicron wave, around 50-70% of children globally were still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, clearly emphasising the need for more effective vaccines and better vaccination coverage among children and adolescents, particularly in developing countries and minority ethnic groups. Funding None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Reza Naeimi
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Mahdi Sepidarkish
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | - Abolfazl Mollalo
- Department of Public Health and Prevention Science, School of Health Sciences, Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, OH, USA
| | - Hamid Parsa
- Department of Neurology, University of Visayas, Gullas College of Medicine, Cebu City, 600 Cebu, Philippines
| | - Sanaz Mahjour
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Fatemeh Safarpour
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
| | | | - Amal Mechaal
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, USA
| | - Hiam Chemaitelly
- Infectious Disease Epidemiology Group, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Disease Epidemiology Analytics on HIV/AIDS, Sexually Transmitted Infections and Viral Hepatitis, Weill Cornell Medicine-Qatar, Qatar-Foundation-Education City, Cornell University, Doha, Qatar
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, Cornell University, New York, USA
| | - Behnam Sartip
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, 60611, USA
| | - Elika Marhoommirzabak
- Department of Neurology, University of Visayas, Gullas College of Medicine, Cebu City, 600 Cebu, Philippines
| | - Ali Ardekani
- Health Policy Research Center, Institute of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Peter J. Hotez
- Texas Children's Hospital Center for Vaccine Development, Department of Pediatrics and Molecular Virology and Microbiology, National School of Tropical Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Robin B. Gasser
- Department of Veterinary Biosciences, Melbourne Veterinary School, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ali Rostami
- Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Health Research Institute, Babol University of Medical Sciences, Babol, Iran
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Medić S, Anastassopoulou C, Lozanov-Crvenković Z, Dragnić N, Petrović V, Ristić M, Pustahija T, Tsakris A, Ioannidis JPA. Incidence, Risk, and Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Reinfections in Children and Adolescents Between March 2020 and July 2022 in Serbia. JAMA Netw Open 2023; 6:e2255779. [PMID: 36780157 PMCID: PMC9926322 DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.55779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/14/2023] Open
Abstract
IMPORTANCE During the COVID-19 pandemic, children and adolescents were massively infected worldwide. In 2022, reinfections became a main feature of the endemic phase of SARS-CoV-2, so it is important to understand the epidemiology and clinical impact of reinfections. OBJECTIVE To assess the incidence, risk, and severity of pediatric SARS-CoV-2 reinfection. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This retrospective cohort study used epidemiologic data of documented SARS-CoV-2 infections from the surveillance database of the Institute for Public Health of Vojvodina. A total of 32 524 children and adolescents from Vojvodina, Serbia, with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection between March 6, 2020, and April 30, 2022, were followed up for reinfection until July 31, 2022. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Incidence rates of documented SARS-CoV-2 reinfection per 1000 person-months, estimated risk of documented reinfection 90 days or more after laboratory confirmation of primary infection, reinfection severity, hospitalizations, and deaths. RESULTS The study cohort included 32 524 children and adolescents with COVID-19 (mean [SD] age, 11.2 [4.9] years; 15 953 [49.1%] male), including 964 children (3.0%) who experienced documented reinfection. The incidence rate of documented reinfections was 3.2 (95% CI, 3.0-3.4) cases per 1000 person-months and was highest in adolescents aged 12 to 17 years (3.4; 95% CI, 3.2-3.7). Most reinfections (905 [93.9%]) were recorded in 2022. The cumulative reinfection risk was 1.3% at 6 months, 1.9% at 9 months, 4.0% at 12 months, 6.7% at 15 months, 7.2% at 18 months, and 7.9% after 21 months. Pediatric COVID-19 cases were generally mild. The proportion of severe clinical forms decreased from 14 (1.4%) in initial episodes to 3 (0.3%) in reinfections. Reinfected children were approximately 5 times less likely to have severe disease during reinfection compared with initial infection (McNemar odds ratio, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.0-0.8). Pediatric reinfections rarely led to hospitalization (0.5% vs 1.3% during primary infections), and none resulted in death. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE This cohort study found that the SARS-CoV-2 reinfection risk remained substantially lower for children and adolescents compared with adults as of July 2022. Pediatric infections were mild, and reinfections were even milder than primary infections.
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Affiliation(s)
- Snežana Medić
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Cleo Anastassopoulou
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | | | - Nataša Dragnić
- Department of Social Medicine and Health Statistics With Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Center for Informatics and Biostatistics, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Vladimir Petrović
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Mioljub Ristić
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Tatjana Pustahija
- Department of Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Novi Sad, Novi Sad, Serbia
- Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Institute of Public Health of Vojvodina, Novi Sad, Serbia
| | - Athanasios Tsakris
- Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - John P. A. Ioannidis
- Department of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, California
- Department of Statistics, Stanford University, Stanford, California
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Oliveira EA, Oliveira MCL, Colosimo EA, Simões E Silva AC, Mak RH, Vasconcelos MA, Silva LR, Martelli DB, Pinhati CC, Martelli-Júnior H. Vaccine Effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Adolescents from 15 to 90 Days after Second Dose: A Population-Based Test-Negative Case-Control Study. J Pediatr 2023; 253:189-196.e2. [PMID: 36181868 PMCID: PMC9519371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2022.09.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 09/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to estimate the vaccine effectiveness (VE) against hospitalization and severe illness in adolescents due to infection with SARS-CoV-2 variants (gamma, delta, and omicron). STUDY DESIGN A test-negative, case-control analysis was conducted in Brazil from July 2021 to March 2022. We enrolled 8458 eligible individuals (12-19 years of age) hospitalized with an acute respiratory syndrome, including 3075 cases with laboratory-proven COVID-19 and 4753 controls with negative tests for COVID-19. The primary exposure of interest was vaccination status. The primary outcome was SARS-CoV-2 infection during gamma/delta vs omicron-predominant periods. The aOR for the association of prior vaccination and outcomes was used to estimate VE. RESULTS In the pre-omicron period, VE against COVID-19 hospitalization was 88% (95% CI, 83%-92%) and has dropped to 59% (95% CI, 49%-66%) during the omicron period. For hospitalized cases of COVID-19, considering the entire period of the analysis, 2-dose schedule was moderately effective against intensive care unit admission (46%, [95% CI, 27-60]), need of mechanical ventilation (49%, [95% CI, 32-70]), severe COVID-19 (42%, [95% CI, 17-60]), and death (46%, [95% CI, 8-67]). There was a substantial reduction of about 40% in the VE against all end points, except for death, during the omicron-predominant period. Among cases, 240 (6.6%) adolescents died; of fatal cases, 224 (93.3%) were not fully vaccinated. CONCLUSION Among adolescents, the VE against all end points was substantially reduced during the omicron-predominant period. Our findings suggest that the 2-dose regimen may be insufficient for SARS-CoV-2 variants and support the need for updated vaccines to provide better protection against severe COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eduardo A Oliveira
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
| | - Maria Christina L Oliveira
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Enrico A Colosimo
- Department of Statistics, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ana Cristina Simões E Silva
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Robert H Mak
- Department of Pediatrics, Rady Children's Hospital, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA
| | - Mariana A Vasconcelos
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Ludmila R Silva
- Health Science/Postgraduate Program in Nursing, School of Nursing, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Daniella B Martelli
- Health Science/Primary Care Postgraduate Program, State University of Montes Claros (Unimontes), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Clara C Pinhati
- Department of Pediatrics, Health Sciences Postgraduate Program, School of Medicine, Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
| | - Hercílio Martelli-Júnior
- Health Science/Primary Care Postgraduate Program, State University of Montes Claros (Unimontes), Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
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Fabrin C, Boing AC, Garcia LP, Boing AF. Desigualdade socioeconômica na letalidade e no cuidado hospitalar de crianças e adolescentes internados por COVID-19 no Brasil. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2023. [DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720230015.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
RESUMO Objetivo: Analisar a associação entre a letalidade e o cuidado hospitalar recebido por crianças e adolescentes internados por COVID-19 e o produto interno bruto (PIB) per capita dos municípios brasileiros e a região de residência. Métodos: Os dados foram extraídos do Sistema de Informação de Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe e do Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística. Analisaram-se como desfechos dicotômicos a letalidade hospitalar por COVID-19, a coleta de amostra biológica para diagnóstico de COVID-19, a realização de exames raio X e tomografia, o uso de suporte ventilatório e a internação em unidade de terapia intensiva. As covariáveis foram o PIB municipal per capita e a região brasileira de residência. Foi realizada regressão de Poisson para os desfechos registrados em 2020 e 2021 no Brasil e segundo o período compreendido em duas ondas de COVID-19 no país, ajustando-a por idade e sexo. Resultados: A letalidade hospitalar foi de 7,6%. Nos municípios dos menores decis de PIB per capita a letalidade foi quase quatro vezes maior entre crianças e duas vezes mais elevada entre adolescentes quando comparada àquela dos maiores decis. Adicionalmente, os residentes de municípios com menor PIB per capita realizaram menos coleta de amostra biológica para diagnóstico, exames de raio X e tomografias. Foram encontradas disparidades regionais associadas à letalidade, com piores indicadores nas regiões Norte e Nordeste. Os achados mantiveram-se consistentes durante as duas ondas de COVID-19. Conclusão: Em municípios com menor PIB per capita e das regiões Norte e Nordeste houve piores indicadores de letalidade e cuidado hospitalar.
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Pereira AR, Branco MDRFC, Costa SDSB, Lopes DAM, Pinheiro VV, Oliveira DCD, Pasklan ANP, Gomes JA, Santos AMD, Gama MEA. Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave por COVID-19 em recém-nascidos no Brasil em 2020–2021. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE EPIDEMIOLOGIA 2023. [DOI: 10.1590/1980-549720230012.2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
RESUMO Objetivo: Descrever as características clínicas dos casos de Síndrome Respiratória Aguda Grave (SRAG) por COVID-19 em recém-nascidos (RNs) em 2020 e 2021, no Brasil, registrados no Sistema de Informação da Vigilância Epidemiológica da Gripe (SIVEP-Gripe). Métodos: As variáveis analisadas foram: sexo, raça/cor, hospitalização, internação em unidade de terapia intensiva (UTI), uso de suporte ventilatório, sinais e sintomas (febre, tosse, saturação de O2<95%, dispneia, desconforto respiratório, diarreia e vômitos), evolução (óbito ou cura), fatores de risco/comorbidades. As variáveis categóricas foram apresentadas em frequências absolutas e relativas. Resultados: Houve 1.649 registros de SRAG por COVID-19 em RNs, com predomínio de pardos nos dois anos. Os sintomas mais frequentes foram, respectivamente, em 2020 e 2021: desconforto respiratório (67,0 e 69,7%), febre (46,3 e 46,2%) e tosse (37,0 e 46,3%). Em 2020, 30,5% dos pacientes receberam suporte ventilatório invasivo, e 41,6% em 2021. Além disso, mais de 55% dos casos precisaram de internação em UTI, e acima de 16% morreram. Conclusão: Destaca-se a elevada proporção de casos que precisou de cuidados intensivos e que evoluíram para óbito.
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Ortiz-Prado E, Izquierdo-Condoy JS, Fernandez-Naranjo R, Vasconez J, Dávila Rosero MG, Revelo-Bastidas D, Herrería-Quiñonez D, Rubio-Neira M. The deadly impact of COVID-19 among children from Latin America: The case of Ecuador. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1060311. [PMID: 37152328 PMCID: PMC10160383 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1060311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 03/17/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic remains a critical global health concern, with older adults being the most vulnerable group. Nonetheless, it is crucial to recognize that COVID-19 has caused numerous deaths in children worldwide. Emerging evidence indicates that infants and breastfeeding children, particularly those aged below one year, face a greater risk of hospitalization and mortality than older children with COVID-19. Objective This study aimed to describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 among children during the early phase of the pandemic in Ecuador. Methods We conducted a country-wide population-based analysis of the epidemiology of COVID-19, using incidence and mortality data reported from Ecuador between February 15, 2020 and May 14 2021. Measurements of frequency, central tendency, dispersion, and absolute differences were calculated for all categorical and continuous variables. Results At least 34,001 cases (23,587 confirmed cases, 5,315 probable and 5,099 suspected) and 258 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported among children in Ecuador during the first 16 months of the pandemic. The overall incidence rate was 612 cases per 100,000 children, the mortality rate was 3 per 100,000, while the case fatality rate was 0.76%. The highest risk group for infection was children and adolescents between 15 and 19 years of age; however, the highest mortality rate occurred in children under one year of age. The largest provinces, such as Pichincha, Guavas and Manabí, were the ones that reported the highest number of cases, 27%, 12.1% and 10.8%, respectively. Conclusions This study is the first to report on COVID-19 epidemics among children in Ecuador. Our findings reveal that younger children have a lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, but a higher risk of mortality compared to older children and adolescents. Additionally, we observed significant disparities in infection rates and outcomes among children living in rural areas, those with comorbidities, and those from indigenous ethnic groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esteban Ortiz-Prado
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Latina de Costa Rica,San José, Costa Rica
- Correspondence: Esteban Ortiz-Prado
| | - Juan S. Izquierdo-Condoy
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Raul Fernandez-Naranjo
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Jorge Vasconez
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - María Gabriela Dávila Rosero
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Doménica Revelo-Bastidas
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Diva Herrería-Quiñonez
- One Health Research Group, Faculty of Health Science, Universidad de Las Américas, Calle de los Colimes y Avenida De los Granados, Quito, Ecuador
| | - Mario Rubio-Neira
- Department of Cardiology, Baca Ortiz Pediatric Hospital, Quito, Ecuador
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Pessoa IL, Paolilo RB, da Paz JA. COVID-19 in children and adolescents with neuroimmunological disorders. Clinics (Sao Paulo) 2023; 78:100142. [PMID: 36512952 PMCID: PMC9672691 DOI: 10.1016/j.clinsp.2022.100142] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/06/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ingrid Lacerda Pessoa
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Renata Barbosa Paolilo
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
| | - José Albino da Paz
- Department of Neurology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo (HCFMUSP), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Solórzano-Santos F, Miranda-Lora AL, Márquez-González H, Klünder-Klünder M. Survival analysis and mortality predictors of COVID-19 in a pediatric cohort in Mexico. Front Public Health 2022; 10:969251. [PMID: 36589967 PMCID: PMC9801985 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.969251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 11/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The new coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has been relatively less lethal in children; however, poor prognosis and mortality has been associated with factors such as access to health services. Mexico remained on the list of the ten countries with the highest case fatality rate (CFR) in adults. It is of interest to know the behavior of COVID-19 in the pediatric population. The aim of this study was to identify clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with mortality due to COVID-19 in pediatric patients. Objective Using National open data and information from the Ministry of Health, Mexico, this cohort study aimed to identify clinical and sociodemographic variables associated with COVID-19 mortality in pediatric patients. Method A cohort study was designed based on National open data from the Ministry of Health, Mexico, for the period April 2020 to January 2022, and included patients under 18 years of age with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Variables analyzed were age, health services used, and comorbidities (obesity, diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular disease, immunosuppression, high blood pressure, and chronic kidney disease). Follow-up duration was 60 days, and primary outcomes were death, hospitalization, and requirement of intensive care. Statistical analysis included survival analysis, prediction models created using the Cox proportional hazards model, and Kaplan-Meier estimation curves. Results The cohort included 261,099 cases with a mean age of 11.2 ± 4 years, and of these, 11,569 (4.43%) were hospitalized and 1,028 (0.39%) died. Variables associated with risk of mortality were age under 12 months, the presence of comorbidities, health sector where they were treated, and first wave of infection. Conclusion Based on data in the National database, we show that the pediatric fatality rate due to SARS-CoV-2 is similar to that seen in other countries. Access to health services and distribution of mortality were heterogeneous. Vulnerable groups were patients younger than 12 months and those with comorbidities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fortino Solórzano-Santos
- Unidad de Investigación en Enfermedades Infecciosas, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - América Liliana Miranda-Lora
- Unidad de Investigación Epidemiológica en Endocrinología y Nutrición, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Horacio Márquez-González
- Departamento de Investigación Clínica, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico,*Correspondence: Horacio Márquez-González
| | - Miguel Klünder-Klünder
- Subdirección de Investigación, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Instituto Nacional de Salud, Ciudad de México, Mexico,Miguel Klünder-Klünder
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Goldfarb D, Zibetti MR, Liu JJW, Priolo Filho SR, Aznar-Blefari C. Resilience during times of enduring challenge: Brazilian Child Protection Professionals' resilience and psychological distress one year into the COVID-19 pandemic. CHILD ABUSE & NEGLECT 2022; 134:105925. [PMID: 36288674 PMCID: PMC9595416 DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2022.105925] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Revised: 09/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Child Protection Professionals (CPPs) was widespread. Evidence regarding how those professionals dealt with the pandemic adversities and consequences for their wellbeing are scarce. OBJECTIVE We sought to analyze whether predictors of resilience had changed one year into the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. Specifically, we explored the resiliency of CPPs as the stress of the pandemic evolved from an acute stressor to a more chronic and persistent stressor. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING 263 CPPs from the five regions of Brazil engaged in this study. Participants had a mean age of 40 years and, on average, 13 years of experience in their field. METHODS CPPs were recruited between March and April of 2021 via professional social media outlets to complete an online survey. CPPs answered questions regarding their perceptions of their work conditions, psychological distress, and resilience. Survey questions were adopted from a prior survey distributed in 2020. RESULTS We replicated findings from our earlier study in the pandemic: A model of CPPs' resilient behaviors showed good indices of fit even one year into the pandemic. Despite this, paths related to individual importance for personal resilient behavior were not significant in this model. Unmet resilient needs significantly predicted general psychological distress. CONCLUSIONS CPPs revealed some changing resiliency needs as the pandemic progressed. Results revealed that meeting resilience-related needs is key to decreasing the psychological distress of this population. This work adds to the literature on the understudied topic of CPPs' psychological distress and resilience during international challenges.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jenny J W Liu
- Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada.
| | - Sidnei R Priolo Filho
- Laboratório de Pesquisa, Prevenção e Intervenção em Psicologia Forense, Universidade Tuiuti do Paraná, Curitiba, Brazil.
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Lima EJDF. COVID-19 and Pediatrics: a look into the past and the future. REVISTA BRASILEIRA DE SAÚDE MATERNO INFANTIL 2022. [DOI: 10.1590/1806-9304202200040001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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Castelli JM, Rearte A, Olszevicki S, Voto C, Del Valle Juarez M, Pesce M, Iovane AN, Paz M, Chaparro ME, Buyayisqui MP, Markiewicz MB, Landoni M, Giovacchini CM, Vizzotti C. Effectiveness of mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and BBIBP-CorV vaccines against infection and mortality in children in Argentina, during predominance of delta and omicron covid-19 variants: test negative, case-control study. BMJ 2022; 379:e073070. [PMID: 36450402 PMCID: PMC9709697 DOI: 10.1136/bmj-2022-073070] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the effectiveness of a two dose vaccine schedule (mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and BBIBP-CorV) against SARS-CoV-2 infection and covid-19 related death and short term waning of immunity in children (3-11 years old) and adolescents (12-17 years old) during periods of delta and omicron variant predominance in Argentina. DESIGN Test negative, case-control study. SETTING Database of the National Surveillance System and the Nominalized Federal Vaccination Registry of Argentina. PARTICIPANTS 844 460 children and adolescents without previous SARS-CoV-2 infection eligible to receive primary vaccination schedule who were tested for SARS-CoV-2 by polymerase chain reaction or rapid antigen test from September 2021 to April 2022. After matching with their corresponding controls, 139 321 (60.3%) of 231 181 cases remained for analysis. EXPOSURES Two dose mRNA-1273, BNT162b2, and BBIBP-CorV vaccination schedule. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES SARS-CoV-2 infection and covid-19 related death. Conditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds of SARS-CoV-2 infection among two dose vaccinated and unvaccinated participants. Vaccine effectiveness was estimated as (1-odds ratio)×100%. RESULTS Estimated vaccine effectiveness against SARS-CoV-2 infection was 61.2% (95% confidence interval 56.4% to 65.5%) in children and 66.8% (63.9% to 69.5%) in adolescents during the delta dominant period and 15.9% (13.2% to 18.6%) and 26.0% (23.2% to 28.8%), respectively, when omicron was dominant. Vaccine effectiveness declined over time, especially during the omicron period, from 37.6% (34.2% to 40.8%) at 15-30 days after vaccination to 2.0% (1.8% to 5.6%) after ≥60 days in children and from 55.8% (52.4% to 59.0%) to 12.4% (8.6% to 16.1%) in adolescents.Vaccine effectiveness against death related to SARS-CoV-2 infection during omicron predominance was 66.9% (6.4% to 89.8%) in children and 97.6% (81.0% to 99.7%) in adolescents. CONCLUSIONS Vaccine effectiveness in preventing mortality remained high in children and adolescents regardless of the circulating variant. Vaccine effectiveness in preventing SARS-CoV-2 infection in the short term after vaccination was lower during omicron predominance and decreasing sharply over time. TRIAL REGISTRATION National Registry of Health Research IS003720.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Manuel Castelli
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Analia Rearte
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Escuela de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata, Mar del Plata, Argentina
| | - Santiago Olszevicki
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carla Voto
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Martina Pesce
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Mercedes Paz
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Maria Pia Buyayisqui
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | | | - Mariana Landoni
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Área BI Dirección Nacional de Sistemas de Información, del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación
| | - Carlos María Giovacchini
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Área BI Dirección Nacional de Sistemas de Información, del Ministerio de Salud de la Nación
| | - Carla Vizzotti
- Ministerio de Salud de la Nación Argentina, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Joseph G, Klein E, Lustig Y, Weiss-Ottolenghi Y, Asraf K, Indenbaum V, Amit S, Kriger O, Gilboa M, Levy Y, Pessach IM, Kreiss Y, Regev-Yochay G, Stein M. Real-World Immunogenicity and Reactogenicity of Two Doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccination in Children Aged 5-11 Years. Vaccines (Basel) 2022; 10:1954. [PMID: 36423049 PMCID: PMC9693260 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines10111954] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2022] [Revised: 11/13/2022] [Accepted: 11/15/2022] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
There are limited data concerning the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of COVID-19 vaccines in children. A total of 110 children, 5-11 years old were vaccinated with two doses (with a 3-week interval between doses) of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and were followed for 21, 90, and 180 days after vaccination for immunogenicity, adverse events, and breakthrough infections. Ninety days after the first vaccine dose, the GeoMean (CI 95%) of IgG ascended to 1291.0 BAU (929.6-1790.2) for uninfected children and 1670.0 BAU (1131.0-2466.0) for Infected children. One hundred and eighty days after receiving the first dose of the vaccine, the titers decreased to 535.5 BAU (288.4-993.6) for the uninfected children, while only a small decline was detected among infected children-1479.0 (878.2-2490.0). The neutralizing antibodies titer almost did not change over time in the uninfected children, and even elevated for the infected children. Of the 110 vaccinated children, 75.5% were infected, with only mild COVID-19 infection symptoms. Child vaccination was found to be safe, with mild, mostly local, and of short duration, reported AEs. No serious adverse events (SAEs) were reported after vaccination. The durability of two doses of vaccine in children is longer, thus a booster may not be needed as early as in adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gili Joseph
- The Sheba Pandemic Preparedness Research Institute (SPRI), and Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Elisheva Klein
- The Sheba Pandemic Preparedness Research Institute (SPRI), and Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Yaniv Lustig
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Yael Weiss-Ottolenghi
- The Sheba Pandemic Preparedness Research Institute (SPRI), and Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Keren Asraf
- The Dworman Automated-Mega Laboratory, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Victoria Indenbaum
- Central Virology Laboratory, Public Health Services, Ministry of Health, Tel-Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Sharon Amit
- Clinical Microbiology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Or Kriger
- Clinical Microbiology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Mayan Gilboa
- The Sheba Pandemic Preparedness Research Institute (SPRI), and Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Yuval Levy
- General Management, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Itai M. Pessach
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Yitshak Kreiss
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- General Management, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
| | - Gili Regev-Yochay
- The Sheba Pandemic Preparedness Research Institute (SPRI), and Infection Prevention & Control Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Michal Stein
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
- Pediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Ramat Gan 52621, Israel
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Abstract
This review provides updates on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in children in Japan by summarizing published data. By the end of March 2022, Japan had experienced 6 waves of COVID-19 outbreaks. Over this time, the clinical features presented among children have changed in the context of the predominant variants. Although the COVID-19 pandemic affected children in terms of medical, physical and psychosocial aspects, the clinical outcomes have been favorable in Japan compared with those in some European countries and the United States, which may be partly due to a lower incidence of multisystem inflammatory syndromes in children and obesity. The COVID-19 vaccine has been available for children; however, the vaccination rate in children 5-11 years of age is lower than that in older children due to the government's lack of an active approach in this specific population. Further action is needed to improve the overall vaccination rates in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Aizawa
- From the Department of Pediatrics, Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata, Japan
| | - Sayaka Takanashi
- Immunization Group, Center for Surveillance, Immunization, and Epidemiologic Research, National Institute of Infectious Diseases
| | - Chikara Ogimi
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medical Subspecialties, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
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Sánchez-García JC, Carrascosa Moreno NP, Tovar-Gálvez MI, Cortés-Martín J, Liñán-González A, Alvarado Olmedo L, Rodríguez-Blanque R. COVID-19 in Pregnant Women, Maternal-Fetal Involvement, and Vertical Mother-to-Child Transmission: A Systematic Review. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10102554. [PMID: 36289816 PMCID: PMC9599127 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10102554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pregnant women are included in the COVID-19 risk groups even if they do not have any pathology. This requires an analysis of research focused on pregnant women to understand the impact of SARS-CoV-2 on their condition. There is also a need to know whether there is vertical mother-to-child transmission, as well as other consequences in case the pregnant woman is infected and COVID-19 positive. A systematic review was carried out to analyze the existing information on the complications of a pregnant woman infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and the possibility of vertical transmission from mother to child, registered in the PROSPERO website and searched in the PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Library databases. Finally, 22 articles were included in the review. The review suggests that vertical transmission from mother to child could be exceptionally possible at the time of delivery or breastfeeding, but not through the placenta. It is interesting to point out the good acceptance of vaccination by pregnant women, which may be the reason for the low infectivity. Further research on pregnant women should be carried out to provide evidence on vertical mother-to-child transmission and the role of breast milk in relation to SARS-CoV-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Carlos Sánchez-García
- Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, 41006 Sevilla, Spain
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | | | - María Isabel Tovar-Gálvez
- Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, 41006 Sevilla, Spain
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences in Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
- Correspondence:
| | - Jonathan Cortés-Martín
- Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, 41006 Sevilla, Spain
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Liñán-González
- Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, 41006 Sevilla, Spain
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences in Melilla, University of Granada, Melilla Campus, 52005 Melilla, Spain
| | - Leticia Alvarado Olmedo
- Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, 41006 Sevilla, Spain
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences in Ceuta, University of Granada, 51001 Ceuta, Spain
| | - Raquel Rodríguez-Blanque
- Research Group CTS1068, Andalusia Research Plan, Junta de Andalucía, 41006 Sevilla, Spain
- Nursing Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
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Zhu PH, Mhango SN, Vinnakota A, Mansour M, Coss-Bu JA. Effects of COVID-19 Pandemic on Nutritional Status, Feeding Practices, and Access to Food Among Infants and Children in Lower and Middle-Income Countries: a Narrative Review. CURRENT TROPICAL MEDICINE REPORTS 2022; 9:197-206. [PMID: 36249489 PMCID: PMC9549037 DOI: 10.1007/s40475-022-00271-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose of Review The COVID-19 pandemic has affected children across the planet and the consequences on their health, nutritional status, and social structure have been more pronounced in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). This review will focus on the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on infant growth and feeding practices and access to food and obesity prevalence among children in LMICs. An electronic search was performed on MEDLINE and Embase to identify relevant articles in the English language. Recent Findings A higher prevalence of infections by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and a lower mortality rate were found in children in LMICs compared to western countries. In 2020, 22% and 52% of the wasting and deaths in children under 5 years of age in LMICS came from the sub-Saharan Africa region, respectively. Despite the decrease in stunting from 40% in 1990 to 24.2% in 2019, the prevalence remains above 30% in LMICs. Regarding breastfeeding practices in LMICs, many organizations recommend breastfeeding for infants and children born to infected mothers with SARS-CoV-2. This pandemic has resulted in higher food insecurity and disruption to access to health care and nutrition-related programs from schools; this situation has been more detrimental for younger children from LMICs. Summary Given the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the nutritional status, higher food insecurity, and lack of access to health care for infants and children in LMICs, efforts from government, world organizations, and non-for-profit institutions should be implemented to ameliorate the effects of this pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Hong Zhu
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
| | - Susan Nita Mhango
- Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation Malawi, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Anirudh Vinnakota
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
| | - Marwa Mansour
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
| | - Jorge A. Coss-Bu
- Division of Critical Care Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children’s Hospital, Houston, TX USA
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Marwali EM, Kekalih A, Yuliarto S, Wati DK, Rayhan M, Valerie IC, Cho HJ, Jassat W, Blumberg L, Masha M, Semple C, Swann OV, Kohns Vasconcelos M, Popielska J, Murthy S, Fowler RA, Guerguerian AM, Streinu-Cercel A, Pathmanathan MD, Rojek A, Kartsonaki C, Gonçalves BP, Citarella BW, Merson L, Olliaro PL, Dalton HJ. Paediatric COVID-19 mortality: a database analysis of the impact of health resource disparity. BMJ Paediatr Open 2022; 6:e001657. [PMID: 36645791 PMCID: PMC9621167 DOI: 10.1136/bmjpo-2022-001657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on paediatric populations varied between high-income countries (HICs) versus low-income to middle-income countries (LMICs). We sought to investigate differences in paediatric clinical outcomes and identify factors contributing to disparity between countries. METHODS The International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infections Consortium (ISARIC) COVID-19 database was queried to include children under 19 years of age admitted to hospital from January 2020 to April 2021 with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 diagnosis. Univariate and multivariable analysis of contributing factors for mortality were assessed by country group (HICs vs LMICs) as defined by the World Bank criteria. RESULTS A total of 12 860 children (3819 from 21 HICs and 9041 from 15 LMICs) participated in this study. Of these, 8961 were laboratory-confirmed and 3899 suspected COVID-19 cases. About 52% of LMICs children were black, and more than 40% were infants and adolescent. Overall in-hospital mortality rate (95% CI) was 3.3% [=(3.0% to 3.6%), higher in LMICs than HICs (4.0% (3.6% to 4.4%) and 1.7% (1.3% to 2.1%), respectively). There were significant differences between country income groups in intervention profile, with higher use of antibiotics, antivirals, corticosteroids, prone positioning, high flow nasal cannula, non-invasive and invasive mechanical ventilation in HICs. Out of the 439 mechanically ventilated children, mortality occurred in 106 (24.1%) subjects, which was higher in LMICs than HICs (89 (43.6%) vs 17 (7.2%) respectively). Pre-existing infectious comorbidities (tuberculosis and HIV) and some complications (bacterial pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome and myocarditis) were significantly higher in LMICs compared with HICs. On multivariable analysis, LMIC as country income group was associated with increased risk of mortality (adjusted HR 4.73 (3.16 to 7.10)). CONCLUSION Mortality and morbidities were higher in LMICs than HICs, and it may be attributable to differences in patient demographics, complications and access to supportive and treatment modalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva Miranda Marwali
- Department of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Jakarta, Indonesia
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aria Kekalih
- Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Saptadi Yuliarto
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Brawijaya, Saiful Anwar Hospital, Malang, Jawa Timur, Indonesia
| | - Dyah Kanya Wati
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Muhammad Rayhan
- Department of Pediatric Cardiac Intensive Care, National Cardiovascular Center Harapan Kita, Jakarta, Indonesia
| | - Ivy Cerelia Valerie
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Udayana, Sanglah Hospital, Denpasar, Bali, Indonesia
| | - Hwa Jin Cho
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology and Pediatric Intensive Care, Department of Pediatrics, Chonnam National University Hospital, Gwangju, Korea (the Republic of)
| | - Waasila Jassat
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Lucille Blumberg
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Maureen Masha
- National Institute for Communicable Diseases, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Calum Semple
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- NIHR Health Protection Research Unit in Emerging and Zoonotic Infections, Institute of Infection Veterinary and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, Merseyside, UK
| | - Olivia V Swann
- Centre for Medical Informatics, The University of Edinburgh Usher Institute of Population Health Sciences and Informatics, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | - Jolanta Popielska
- Warsaw's Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Warszawa, Mazowieckie, Poland
| | - Srinivas Murthy
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Critical Care, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Robert A Fowler
- Interdepartmental Division of Critical Care Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anne-Marie Guerguerian
- Department of Critical Care Medicine, Neurosciences and Mental Health Program, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Anca Streinu-Cercel
- National Institute of Infectious Diseases Prof Dr Matei Bals, Bucuresti, Romania
| | - Mohan Dass Pathmanathan
- National Institutes of Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia, Putrajaya, Wilayah Persekutuan, Malaysia
| | - Amanda Rojek
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Christiana Kartsonaki
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Bronner P Gonçalves
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Barbara Wanjiru Citarella
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Laura Merson
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Piero L Olliaro
- International Severe Acute Respiratory and emerging Infection Consortium (ISARIC), Pandemic Sciences Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Khemiri H, Ayouni K, Triki H, Haddad-Boubaker S. SARS-CoV-2 infection in pediatric population before and during the Delta (B.1.617.2) and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants era. Virol J 2022; 19:144. [PMID: 36076271 PMCID: PMC9452867 DOI: 10.1186/s12985-022-01873-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 08/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND COVID-19, the coronavirus disease that emerged in December 2019, caused drastic damage worldwide. At the beginning of the pandemic, available data suggested that the infection occurs more frequently in adults than in infants. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children before and after B.1.617.2 Delta and B.1.1.529 Omicron variants emergence in terms of prevalence, transmission dynamics, clinical manifestations, complications and risk factors. METHODS Our method is based on the literature search on PubMed, Science Direct and Google Scholar. From January 2020 to July 2022, a total of 229 references, relevant for the purpose of this review, were considered. RESULTS The incidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection in infants was underestimated. Up to the first half of May, most of the infected children presented asymptomatic or mild manifestations. The prevalence of COVID-19 varied from country to another: the highest was reported in the United States (22.5%). COVID-19 can progress and become more severe, especially with the presence of underlying health conditions. It can also progress into Kawasaki or Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS) manifestations, as a consequence of exacerbating immune response. With the emergence of the B.1.617.2 Delta and B.1.1.529 Omicron variants, it seems that these variants affect a large proportion of the younger population with the appearance of clinical manifestations similar to those presented by adults with important hospitalization rates. CONCLUSION The pediatric population constitutes a vulnerable group that requires particular attention, especially with the emergence of more virulent variants. The increase of symptomatic SARS-CoV-2 infection and hospitalization rate among children highlights the need to extend vaccination to the pediatric population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haifa Khemiri
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
- LR 20 IPT 02 Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Kaouther Ayouni
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
- LR 20 IPT 02 Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Henda Triki
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Sondes Haddad-Boubaker
- Laboratory of Clinical Virology, WHO Regional Reference Laboratory for Poliomyelitis and Measles for the EMR, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, 13 place Pasteur, BP74 1002 le Belvédère, Tunis, Tunisia.
- LR 20 IPT 02 Laboratory of Virus, Host and Vectors, Institut Pasteur de Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar, Tunis, Tunisia.
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Evans-Gilbert T, Lashley PM, Lerebours E, Sin Quee C, Singh-Minott I, Fernandes M, Thomas JW, Nelson B, Braithwaite J, Hambleton I. Children and the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic: a Caribbean perspective. Rev Panam Salud Publica 2022; 46:e135. [PMID: 36060198 PMCID: PMC9426950 DOI: 10.26633/rpsp.2022.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
This study aims to assess coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) surveillance methods, health resources, vaccination coverage and income stratification and quantify burdens of disease and death in children and adolescents in the Caribbean. The investigation was a descriptive, cross-sectional study that included 15 Caribbean countries/territories and utilized surveys and secondary data sources. Quarantine and isolation measures were robust and surveillance strategies were similar. Pediatric specialists were available across the region, but few had designated pediatric hospitals or high-dependency units. There were more cases in children on islands with larger populations. Compared to high-income countries/territories, upper and lower middle-income countries/territories had higher disease burdens, fewer doctors and nurses per 1 000 population, lower bed capacities, and lower vaccination coverage. Child and adolescent cases ranged from 0.60% to 16.9%, compared with a global case rate of 20.2% in 2021. By August 2021 there were 33 deaths among children from Haiti, Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, and Barbados. The respective case fatality rates for 0-9-year-olds and 10-19-year-olds were 2.80 and 0.70 in Haiti, 0.10 and 0.20 in Jamaica, and 0.00 and 0.14 in Trinidad, compared with 0.17 and 0.1 globally. Overall COVID-19 incidence and mortality in children were consistent with global estimates. Limited resources have been offset by availability of pediatricians across the region, and minimally direct effects on children. Prioritization of admission of specific at-risk groups, training of first responders and vaccination campaigns targeting pregnant women and vulnerable children and adolescents could benefit countries with low vaccine coverage rates and limited resources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy Evans-Gilbert
- University of the West Indies Kingston Jamaica University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica
| | - Paula Michele Lashley
- University of the West Indies Bridgetown Barbados University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
| | - Emmeline Lerebours
- Hôpital Saint Damien Port-au-Prince Haiti Hôpital Saint Damien, Port-au-Prince, Haiti
| | - Corrine Sin Quee
- University of the West Indies Nassau The Bahamas University of the West Indies, Nassau, The Bahamas
| | - Indira Singh-Minott
- Health Authority of Anguilla The Valley Anguilla Health Authority of Anguilla, The Valley, Anguilla
| | - Maritza Fernandes
- University of the West Indies St Augustine Trinidad and Tobago University of the West Indies, St Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago
| | - Joycelyn Walter Thomas
- Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment Saint John Antigua and Barbuda Ministry of Health, Wellness and the Environment, Saint John, Antigua and Barbuda
| | - Beverly Nelson
- Children's Health Organization for Relief and Educational Services St Georges Grenada Children's Health Organization for Relief and Educational Services, St Georges, Grenada
| | - Jozan Braithwaite
- General Hospital St Georges Grenada General Hospital, St Georges, Grenada
| | - Ian Hambleton
- University of the West Indies Bridgetown Barbados University of the West Indies, Bridgetown, Barbados
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50
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Santos VS, Siqueira TS, Atienzar AIC, Santos MARDR, Vieira SCF, Lopes ADSA, Silva JRS, Martins-Filho PR, Cuevas LE, Gurgel RQ. Spatial clusters, social determinants of health and risk of COVID-19 mortality in Brazilian children and adolescents: A nationwide population-based ecological study. LANCET REGIONAL HEALTH. AMERICAS 2022; 13:100311. [PMID: 35789692 PMCID: PMC9242540 DOI: 10.1016/j.lana.2022.100311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Data regarding the geographical distribution of cases and risk factors for COVID-19 death in children and adolescents are scarce. We describe the spatial distribution of COVID-19 cases and deaths in paediatric population and their association with social determinants of health in Brazil. Methods This is a population-based ecological study with a spatial analysis of all cases and deaths due to COVID-19 in Brazil among children and adolescents aged 0-19 years from March 2020 to October 2021. The units of analysis were the 5570 municipalities. Data on COVID-19 cases and deaths, social vulnerability, health inequities, and health system capacity were obtained from publicly available databases. Municipalities were stratified from low to very high COVID-19 incidence and mortality using K-means clustering procedures, and spatial clusters and relative risks were estimated using spatial statistics with Poisson probability models. The relationship between COVID-19 estimates and social determinants of health was explored by using multivariate Beta regression techniques. Findings A total of 33,991 COVID-19 cases and 2424 deaths among children and adolescents aged 0-19 years were recorded from March 2020 to October 2021. There was a spatial dependence for the crude mortality coefficient per 100,000 population in the paediatric population aged 0-19 years (I Moran 0·10; P < 0·001). Forty municipalities had higher mortality rates, of which 20 were in states from the Northeast region. Seven spatial clusters were identified for COVID-19 mortality, with four clusters in the Northeast region and three in the North region. Municipalities with higher social inequality and vulnerability had higher COVID-19 mortality in the paediatric population. Interpretation The main clusters of risk for mortality among children and adolescents were identified in municipalities in the North and Northeast regions, which are the regions with the worst socioeconomic indicators and greatest health disparities in the country. Our findings confirmed the higher burden of COVID-19 for Brazilian paediatric population in municipalities with higher social inequality and vulnerability and worse socioeconomic indicators. To reduce the burden of COVID-19 on children, mass immunisation is necessary. Funding None.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victor Santana Santos
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, Brazil
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | | | - Ana I. Cubas Atienzar
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Sarah Cristina Fontes Vieira
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Division of Paediatric, Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Aline de Siqueira Alves Lopes
- Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Lagarto, Brazil
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | | | - Paulo Ricardo Martins-Filho
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Investigative Pathology Laboratory, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
| | - Luis Eduardo Cuevas
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Ricardo Queiroz Gurgel
- Health Sciences Graduate Program, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
- Division of Paediatric, Department of Medicine, Federal University of Sergipe, Aracaju, Brazil
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