AI Summary & Key Takeaways
AI InsightConclusion: COVID-19 is common in children of all ages, most of whom are either asymptomatic or present with mild forms with a very good outcome.
📌 3 Key Takeaways
Abstract
Objectives: To describe the clinical features, comorbidities and outcome of COVID-19 infected children and adolescents in Cameroon. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study conducted among COVID-19 patients aged 19 years or less, managed at the treatment center of the Bamenda Regional Hospital from 6th March 2020 to 6th June 2021. Data collected from the medical records included demographic data, Clinical characteristics at presentation, laboratory findings, treatment and outcome were collected. Results: The study included 290 children representing 17.7 % of the total number of cases, with a mean age of 13.4±4.72 years and a sex ratio 0.44. Contamination was mainly from close contact with a positive case in school (74.10%) or a family member (25.50%). While most symptomatic cases were mild (67.9%), 3.1% were moderate cases and 29% remained asymptomatic. Among symptomatic patients, there was a 2 times increased odds among adolescents compared with the pre-adolescent (OR= 2.16 95%CI: 1.09 - 4.22; p=0.02). The most reported symptoms were cough (43.80%) and nasal symptoms (41.4%). All subjects had a good outcome with 99.7% cured rate. Conclusion: COVID-19 is common in children of all ages, most of whom are either asymptomatic or present with mild forms with a very good outcome.