Clinical and epidemiological features of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children under 16 years of age

During the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, efforts have focused on trying to identify the routes of transmission of the virus, characterize its symptoms and signs, and investigate the best diagnostic and therapeutic methods. There are fewer published data and series in the pediatric population than in adults. Objective: To analyze the clinical and epidemiological characteristics in children under 16 years of age diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2. Patients and Method: Descriptive study carried out on children who underwent SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing due to compatible symptoms, close contact, or requiring hospitalization or surgery, in the Emergency Department of a hospital in Madrid, Spain. 30 variables were collected including epidemiological data, symptoms, and signs of infection. Results: Out of 1378 patients, 12% were positive (165). There was a higher proportion of patients of North African origin in the positive group than in the negative one (p < 0.01). Of all patients, 35.6% reported close contact with a confirmed case, which was more frequent in the positive group. 75.8% of the positive patients had some symptoms, most frequently fever, runny nose, and cough, followed by digestive symptoms. There was one case of COVID-19 pneumonia and two patients with MIS-C, one of which had SARS-CoV-2 infection. Eight of the positive patients (4.8%) required hospitalization due to SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusion: Although SARS-CoV-2 infection is milder in the pediatric population, almost 5% will require hospitalization. No close contact was identified in a high percentage of patients (61%). Further studies are needed at all levels of care to characterize the infection in children and adolescents.