Title:Clinical Characteristics, Nutritional Status, and Disease Severity in
Pediatric Patients with COVID-19
Volume: 21
Issue: 3
Author(s): Mohammadreza Mirkarimi, Ali Aminasnafi, Mohsen Alisamir*, Fatemeh Sabetsarvestani and Shooka Mohammadi
Affiliation:
- Department of Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran
Keywords:
Pediatric patients, nutritional status, COVID-19, disease severity, malnutrition, anemia.
Abstract:
Background: Limited clinical data are available regarding the impacts of coronavirus
disease 2019 (COVID-19) on children.
Objective: This study assessed the clinical characteristics, nutritional status, and disease severity
in pediatric patients with COVID-19.
Methods: A retrospective study examined medical records of children with COVID-19 admitted
to Abuzar Hospital (Ahvaz, Iran) for nine months. Data related to their clinical, nutritional status
and demographic characteristics were documented.
Results: The present study included medical records of 500 patients. More than half of them were
boys. Different levels of COVID-19 severity were observed in 202, 172, and 126 children as mild,
moderate, and severe cases, respectively. Children with severe or moderate COVID-19 had substantially
elevated levels of various inflammatory markers, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), gamma-glutamyl
transferase (GGT), neutrophils, alanine transaminase (ALT), creatinine, bilirubin, and aspartate
aminotransferase (AST) compared to those with mild COVID-19 (p < 0.001). They had lower
levels of lymphocytes and vitamin D, as well as longer hospital stays than children with mild
COVID-19 (p < 0.001). In addition, 52% and 40.2% of patients had malnutrition and anemia, respectively.
The majority of underweight and stunted children had moderate or severe COVID-19.
Conclusion: The current study revealed a high prevalence of malnutrition, anemia, insufficient
levels of vitamin D, elevated levels of inflammatory markers, and abnormal liver and kidney function
tests in children with severe or moderate cases of COVID-19 compared to those with mild
COVID-19.