Clinical characteristics and factors associated with severe COVID-19 among hospitalized pediatric patients: a retrospective cohort study in the Chaoshan region of China
Retrospective cohort analysis identifies predictors of severe COVID-19 in pediatric hospitalized patients, indicating fatigue and hoarseness as key symptoms.
Key Points
Severe or critical illness was identified in 32.8% of hospitalized pediatric COVID-19 patients, primarily under 3 years old.
Fatigue and hoarseness emerged as significant predictors for severe COVID-19 in children, with fatigue linked to neurological involvement.
A retrospective cohort study reviewed clinical data from 287 pediatric patients admitted between December 2022 and August 2023.
Vigilance is necessary for young patients with neurological symptoms due to the association with acute necrotizing encephalopathy and mortality.