Clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children in the middle of pandemic season in a pediatric tertiary center. Report of local COVID Clinical Committee, Hospital de Niños Roberto del Río, Santiago Chile

Abstract

Background: SARS-CoV-2 virus infection responsible for de pandemic in course, is a new clinical and physiopathological entity, whose control is still uncertain till we can provide an effective and universal vaccine. In the beginning it was described as a respiratory disease which affects mainly adults, children can have the disease too and in this group the disease can be different than the adult disease. Acute infection in children is mostly mild and when it requires hospital assistance it resolves with support therapy and without complications most of the time. However, in the Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystemic Syndrome is vital the early clinical suspect and refers to a tertiary center to bring support and properly treatment. Aim:  To describe the clinical spectrum of SARS-CoV-2 virus disease in a pediatric referral center with the pandemic still in development. Method:  A case series of 537 patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection treated between March 1 and July 15, 2020 is presented with a description of those who were hospitalized. Results:  127 (23%) of them were hospitalized and of these 69% were symptomatic. Twenty-six patients (20%) of those hospitalized presented PIMS, only one died for complications of his chronic diseases.