Mansourian M, Ghandi Y, Habibi D, Mehrabi S. COVID-19 infection in children: A systematic review and meta-analysis of clinical features and laboratory findings.
Arch Pediatr 2021;
28:242-248. [PMID:
33483192 PMCID:
PMC7794595 DOI:
10.1016/j.arcped.2020.12.008]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2020] [Revised: 08/13/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to provide a meta-analysis of previously published papers on the COVID-19-related clinical features and laboratory findings in children.
METHOD
This meta-analysis was conducted by using Medline/PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Google Scholar. Finally, 32 articles were selected for full-text assessment.
RESULTS
The most frequent symptoms were fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, and dyspnea. Regarding the combined results of the meta-analysis, fever (46%, 95% CI 40-53%), cough (37%, 95% CI 29-46%), diarrhea (19%, 95% CI 9-28%), and pharyngalgia (13%, 95% CI 5-20%) were the most widely reported symptom. Besides, positive RT-PCR test results (43%, 95% CI 33-53%), low oxygen saturation (38%, 95% CI 25-51%), and elevated D-dimer levels (36%, 95% CI 16-56%) were the most common laboratory findings.
CONCLUSION
This review found that clinical presentations were milder, the prognosis was better, and the mortality rate was lower in children with COVID-19 compared with adult patients; however, children are potential carriers, like adults, and can transmit the infection among the population. Therefore, early identification and intervention in pediatric patients with COVID-19 are essential in order to control the pandemic. Moreover, gastrointestinal symptoms were more common symptoms among children.
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