The Clinical Course of Covid 19 in thePaediatric Population at Georgetown Public Hospital and Infectious Disease Hospital: A Retrospective Chart Review
Introduction
Background/ Introduction: The Coronavirus 2019, more commonly known as Covid 19 wasfirstdiscovered in 2019 but became a global pandemic in 2020.Guyanarecorded its first documented case in March 2020.
Objectives
Objectives: To examine the clinical progression of covid 19positivepaediatric patients who required admission at GPHC and to theIDHbased on demographics, signs and symptoms at presentation, clinicalcourse during admission and to highlight pertinentlaboratoryfindings.
Method
Designs & Methods: This study was a retrospective chart analysis of a cohort of Covid19paediatric patients admitted between August 2020-2022 at GPHCandIDH. Analysis was done using SPSS.
Results
Results: 95 charts were reviewed and showed a predominance of males (64.2%) andpatients of African descent (35.8%). Age most admitted was under1 year(20%). Chief complaints were fever and vomiting; 26% and18%respectively. On admission only 16 patients (9%) had a fever.Mostpatients had normal WBC (59.5%), and infiltrates were commononchest x rays (68%) . Most patients 82 (86%) did not haveanycomplications during their hospitalization. There were 4(4.2%) deaths. Underlying medical conditions did not have any effectsofadmission duration (p=0.424) nor on developingcomplications (p=0.098).
Conclusion
Conclusion: Children appear to have a milder disease course regardless of havinganunderlying medical condition. Fever and vomiting were the mostcommonpresenting complaints.
Recommendations
Recommendations : Continued education on preventative measures and misconceptionsofCovid 19 among caregivers of paediatric patients. Moreinformationshould be made available about the signs and symptoms, sothediagnosisisn’t missed.