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. 2023 Apr-Jun;40(2):200-206.
doi: 10.17843/rpmesp.2023.402.12409.

Characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the third wave (omicron variant) at a referral hospital in Peru

[Article in Spanish, English]
Giancarlo Alvarado-Gamarra  1 , Vanessa Zarate-Campos  1 , Jimena A Saavedra Díaz  1 , Renato M Sánchez Julca  1 , Andrea Tahua Vega  1 , Aida Borcic  1 , Alvaro Taype-Rondan  2   3 , Luis Miguel Franchi Prato  4 , Claudio F Lanata  4 , Jesús Dominguez-Rojas  1 , Raquel Garcés-Ghilardi  1 , Matilde Estupiñan-Vigil  1
Affiliations

Characteristics of pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 during the third wave (omicron variant) at a referral hospital in Peru

[Article in Spanish, English]
Giancarlo Alvarado-Gamarra et al. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica. 2023 Apr-Jun.

Abstract
in English, Spanish

Motivation for the study. There are few reports on the clinical experience of the population infected with the omicron variant of COVID-19 in Latin America, particularly in pediatric population. Main findings. There was a rapid increase in the number of hospitalizations compared to previous waves, mainly due to respiratory conditions; most patients progressed favorably. Antibiotics and corticosteroids were the most used drugs. Implications. Studying the characteristics of children hospitalized during the third wave of COVID-19 in Peru may increase the knowledge of how the omicron variant affects this population group, which will allow comparisons with possible new waves or diseases.

RESUMEN: El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir las características de los pacientes pediátricos (entre 28 días y 14 años) hospitalizados con COVID-19 durante la tercera ola (variante ómicron) en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins (HNERM) (Lima, Perú). En esta cohorte retrospectiva, se revisaron las historias clínicas de 122 pacientes pediátricos que fueron atendidos en el HNERM entre enero e inicios de abril del 2022 (55% varones, mediana de edad de 5 años), 77,9% durante el primer mes, y la mitad presentaron alguna comorbilidad. Se hospitalizaron principalmente por dificultad respiratoria, comorbilidad descompensada y deshidratación. El 6,6% ingresaron a cuidados intensivos, 4,9% a ventilación mecánica invasiva, 5,7% requirieron algún vasoactivo y 1,6% fallecieron. Los fármacos más usados fueron antibióticos (43,4%) y corticoides (27,1%). En conclusión, se encontró un incremento rápido de hospitalizaciones en comparación con las olas anteriores, la mayoría con evolución favorable, y con un amplio uso empírico de antibióticos.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of interest.: None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Pediatric patients hospitalized with COVID-19 per month at the Edgardo Rebagliati Martins National Hospital, 2020-2022 (n=488).
Figura 1
Figura 1. Pacientes pediatricos hospitalizados con COVID-19 por mes en el Hospital Nacional Edgardo Rebagliati Martins, 2020-2022
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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