Pediatric Coronavirus Disease 2019: Clinical Features and Management

Abstract

There is a lack of clarity regarding management of COVID-19 infection in children. This review aims to summarize the key clinical presentations and management of Pediatric COVID-19. The Medline database was searched for seminal articles and guidelines on COVID-19 presentation and management in children less than 18 years of age. COVID-19 has a lower incidence (1-5% of reported cases worldwide), causes milder disease with lower need for intensive care admission and lower mortality rate (0-0.7%) in children compared with adults. Multisystem inflammatory syndrome is a rare but severe complication in children. Majority of patients require supportive care including adequate hydration, nutrition and antipyretics. Supplemental oxygen therapy should be given in moderate to severe cases with all precautions to prevent air-borne COVID-19 spread. Steroids may be helpful in severe cases. Anticoagulation is indicated in moderate to severe cases with risk factors. More data on the efficacy and safety of antivirals and immunomodulators in children is needed.