Multi-organ Presentation of Children with COVID-19 Infection in the North of Iran: A Retrospective Study

COVID-19 can cause various symptoms in children. The aim of the study was evaluation of multi-organ presentation of children with COVID-19 infection in Amirkola Children’s Hospital in Babol, Iran.

This study was conducted retrospectively and data were extracted from medical records. All children with suspected COVID-19 infection who were referred to Amirkola Children’s Hospital in Babol (north of Iran) from March 4, 2020 to May 30, 2020 were enrolled. Clinical features of the respiratory and digestive system and Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-c) were assessed. In all children WBC, RBC, Hb, MCV, Lymphocyte, CRP, ESR, ALT, AST, PT, PTT and platelets were also evaluated. Data analysis was conducted with SPSS software version 16.0.

Totally 37 children were recruited to the study. The most common clinical symptoms in children were fever (86.5%), weakness (75.7%) anorexia (73%)abdominal pain (48.6.9%), diarrhea (45.9%) nausea and vomiting (37.8%), cough (32.4%). About 60% and 8% of children had Hb and MCV less than normal levels respectively,So that 80% and 60% of children had abnormal elevations in CRP and ESR, respectively. Also, 32% and 35% of them had an increase in ALT and AST levels respectively and about 40% of them hadhypoalbuminemia. Additionally, 7 of 37 (18.9%) children had MIS-c. The result of the study demonstrated that 10/37 (32.4%) of children had pulmonary involvement.

In this study gastrointestinal symptoms were more common than respiratory symptoms in children with COVID-19 infection. Also, about one- fifth of children with COVID-19 had MIS-c. Attention to manifestations of organs other than respiratory system in children with COVID-19 infection is necessary.