Perfil clínico e epidemiológico da Covid-19 em crianças em um Hospital de Alta Complexidade na cidade de São Luís – Maranhão

Abstract

Introduction: The year 2020 was marked by the emergence of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Until February 2024, more than 38.5 million cases and 710 thousand deaths from COVID-19 were registered in Brazil. Among the cases, children and adolescents correspond to the least affected age group. The production of epidemiological data on COVID-19 in children may contribute to a better understanding of the disease. Thus, this study aims to elucidate the clinical and epidemiological profile of children in a High Complexity Hospital in the city of São Luís-MA. Methodology: Cross-sectional, descriptive epidemiological study, developed in a High Complexity Hospital, located in the State of Maranhão, Brazil. Medical records of patients aged 0-12 years admitted to the ward or intensive care unit (ICU) due to COVID-19 were analyzed. Results and discussion: Regarding gender, 52.3% were female and 47.7% were male. In the analysis of age group, 70.45% were infants, 9.09% were preschoolers, 15.91% and 3.55% were pre-adolescents. As for race/color, brown people represented 95.45%. 31.82% were in the ward and 68.18% in the ICU. The main comorbidities were cardiac/cardiovascular (10%) and neurological (10%). Regarding concomitant diseases/conditions, 72.16% were respiratory. The diagnosis was made based on rapid test (8.7%), IgM+ serology (26.09%) and RT-PCR (65.22%). 79.55% of patients received supplemental O2, while 20.45% were on room air, 52.27% were on IMV. The length of hospital stay was <10 days in 54.55%. In the clinical outcome, 77.27% were discharged, 6.82% were transferred and 15.91% died. Conclusion: The study concluded that most patients were female, aged between 0-2 years, and of mixed race. The most occupied beds were in the ICU. Most patients had no comorbidities. The diagnosis was made mainly by RT-PCR. More than half of the patients required supplemental O2 and coupling to IMV. The length of hospital stay was <10 days, and most evolved with discharge from the episode, despite the significant number of deaths.