COVID-19 was common and mild in infants and more severe in older, healthy children, according to a study in Pediatrics.
Researchers conducted a study of 65 children younger than 22 years with COVID-19 at Steven and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center at New Hyde Park, N.Y.-based Northwell Health. Cases were identified from patients with fever and/or respiratory symptoms who underwent a nucleic acid amplification-based COVID-19 test.
Seven study takeaways:
1. About half of all children with COVID-19 were chronically ill or immunocompromised.
2. Elevated white blood cell count and C-reactive protein levels were associated with greater illness severity.
3. Overall, 86 percent of patients had a fever, 60 percent had lower respiratory symptoms or signs, and 62 percent had gastrointestinal symptoms.
4. Thirty-five percent of patients required intensive care and 34 percent required respiratory support.
5. Virus severity was lowest in infants younger than 60 days.
6. Among children hospitalized for COVID-19, most were younger than 60 days or older than 12 years of age.
7. One death was reported.
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