SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study
Compared to other respiratory viruses, the proportion of hospitalizations due to SARS-CoV-2 among children is relatively low. While severe illness is not common among children and young individuals, a particular type of severe condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) ha...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Sciendo
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Acta Medica Bulgarica |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2023-0014 |
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| author | Velikov P. Kapincheva N. Trifonova I. Velev V. Popov M. Ivanov I. Chipeva R. Valkov T. Yordanova R. Dimitrov G. Korsun N. Tcherveniakova T. |
| author_facet | Velikov P. Kapincheva N. Trifonova I. Velev V. Popov M. Ivanov I. Chipeva R. Valkov T. Yordanova R. Dimitrov G. Korsun N. Tcherveniakova T. |
| author_sort | Velikov P. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Compared to other respiratory viruses, the proportion of hospitalizations due to SARS-CoV-2 among children is relatively low. While severe illness is not common among children and young individuals, a particular type of severe condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has been reported. The aim of this prospective cohort study, which followed a group of individuals under the age of 19, was to examine the characteristics of patients who had contracted SARS-CoV-2, including their coexisting medical conditions, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and outcomes. The study also aimed to investigate the features of children who met the WHO case definition of MIS-C, as well as those who required intensive care. A total of 270 patients were included between March 2020 and December 2021. The eligible criteria were individuals between 0-18 with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Infectious Disease Hospital “Prof. Ivan Kirov” in Sofia, Bulgaria. Nearly 76% of the patients were ≤ 12 years old. In our study, at least one comorbidity was reported in 28.1% of the cases, with obesity being the most common one (8.9%). Less than 5% of children were transferred to an intensive care unit. We observed a statistically significant difference in the age groups, with children between 5 and 12 years old having a higher likelihood of requiring intensive care compared to other age groups. The median values of PaO2 and SatO2 were higher among patients admitted to the standard ward, while the values of granulocytes and C-reactive protein were higher among those transferred to the intensive care unit. Additionally, we identified 26 children who met the WHO case definition for MIS-C. Our study data supports the evidence of milder COVID-19 in children and young individuals as compared to adults. Older age groups were associated with higher incidence of both MIS-C and ICU admissions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:22:57Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-aecb2b89d7ea4bd6bc6a45a9cd69425c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2719-5384 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T08:22:57Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Sciendo |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Acta Medica Bulgarica |
| spelling | doaj.art-aecb2b89d7ea4bd6bc6a45a9cd69425c2023-05-31T06:59:40ZengSciendoActa Medica Bulgarica2719-53842023-06-01502101910.2478/amb-2023-0014SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort StudyVelikov P.0Kapincheva N.1Trifonova I.2Velev V.3Popov M.4Ivanov I.5Chipeva R.6Valkov T.7Yordanova R.8Dimitrov G.9Korsun N.10Tcherveniakova T.111Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria3National Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, Bulgaria5Department of Medical Oncology, Medical University of Sofia, University Hospital “Tsaritsa Yoanna” – Sofia, Bulgaria3National Laboratory “Influenza and ARD”, Department of Virology, National Centre of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases – Sofia, Bulgaria1Department of Infectious Diseases, Parasitology and Tropical Medicine, Medical University – Sofia, BulgariaCompared to other respiratory viruses, the proportion of hospitalizations due to SARS-CoV-2 among children is relatively low. While severe illness is not common among children and young individuals, a particular type of severe condition called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) has been reported. The aim of this prospective cohort study, which followed a group of individuals under the age of 19, was to examine the characteristics of patients who had contracted SARS-CoV-2, including their coexisting medical conditions, clinical symptoms, laboratory findings, and outcomes. The study also aimed to investigate the features of children who met the WHO case definition of MIS-C, as well as those who required intensive care. A total of 270 patients were included between March 2020 and December 2021. The eligible criteria were individuals between 0-18 with a confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection at the Infectious Disease Hospital “Prof. Ivan Kirov” in Sofia, Bulgaria. Nearly 76% of the patients were ≤ 12 years old. In our study, at least one comorbidity was reported in 28.1% of the cases, with obesity being the most common one (8.9%). Less than 5% of children were transferred to an intensive care unit. We observed a statistically significant difference in the age groups, with children between 5 and 12 years old having a higher likelihood of requiring intensive care compared to other age groups. The median values of PaO2 and SatO2 were higher among patients admitted to the standard ward, while the values of granulocytes and C-reactive protein were higher among those transferred to the intensive care unit. Additionally, we identified 26 children who met the WHO case definition for MIS-C. Our study data supports the evidence of milder COVID-19 in children and young individuals as compared to adults. Older age groups were associated with higher incidence of both MIS-C and ICU admissions.https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2023-0014sars-cov-2childrenbulgariamis-c |
| spellingShingle | Velikov P. Kapincheva N. Trifonova I. Velev V. Popov M. Ivanov I. Chipeva R. Valkov T. Yordanova R. Dimitrov G. Korsun N. Tcherveniakova T. SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study Acta Medica Bulgarica sars-cov-2 children bulgaria mis-c |
| title | SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study |
| title_full | SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study |
| title_fullStr | SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study |
| title_full_unstemmed | SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study |
| title_short | SARS-COV-2 Infection in Children and Young People in Bulgaria – A Prospective, Single-Center, Cohort Study |
| title_sort | sars cov 2 infection in children and young people in bulgaria a prospective single center cohort study |
| topic | sars-cov-2 children bulgaria mis-c |
| url | https://doi.org/10.2478/amb-2023-0014 |
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