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. 2022 Apr;58(4):618-623.
doi: 10.1111/jpc.15786. Epub 2021 Oct 25.

Characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Victorian children at a tertiary paediatric hospital

Shidan Tosif  1   2   3 , Laila F Ibrahim  1   2   3   4 , Rebecca Hughes  3 , Daryl R Cheng  1   2   3 , Danielle Wurzel  1   2   5   6 , Isabella Overmars  2 , Andrew C Steer  1   2   7 , Penelope A Bryant  1   2   4   7 , Trevor Duke  1   2   8 , Stuart Lewena  1   2   9   10 , Franz E Babl  1   9   10 , Sarah McNab  1   2   3 , Nigel Crawford  1   2   3
Affiliations

Characteristics and outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection in Victorian children at a tertiary paediatric hospital

Shidan Tosif et al. J Paediatr Child Health. 2022 Apr.

Abstract

Aim: Victoria experienced two 'waves' of COVID-19 between March and September 2020 and more cases than any other jurisdiction in Australia. Although world-wide reports of COVID-19 reflect that children are less likely to experience severe disease compared with adults, hospitalisations and deaths have been reported. We report testing and outcomes of children with SARS-CoV-2 infection presenting to a tertiary paediatric hospital in Melbourne.

Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study at The Royal Children's Hospital (RCH), including all children and adolescents (aged 0-18 years) who presented and were tested for SARS-CoV-2 over a 6-month period, between 21 March 2020, up to the 21 September 2020. Detailed epidemiological and clinical data were recorded.

Results: A total of 19 708 tests for SARS-CoV-2 were performed in 14 419 patients. One hundred and eighty patients tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 (1.2%). 110 (61%) were symptomatic, 60 (33%) were asymptomatic and 10 (6%) were pre-symptomatic. Close contacts of a positive case were associated with a higher risk of a testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 (120/2027 (6%) vs. 60/14589 (0.4%), RD 5.5 (95% CI 4.5 to 6.5), P < 0.001). Eighteen (10%) SARS-CoV-2-positive patients were admitted to hospital with one patient requiring intensive care. All patients recovered fully with no deaths.

Conclusion: In Victorian children presenting to a tertiary hospital, SARS-CoV-2 infection caused predominantly mild or asymptomatic infection, with most children not requiring hospitalisation.

Keywords: COVID-19; general paediatrics; infectious disease.

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Figures

Fig 1
Fig 1
Number of SARS‐CoV‐2 tests and SARS‐CoV‐2‐positive cases by month. (formula image) SARS‐CoV‐2 tested and (formula image) SARS‐CoV‐2 positive.
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