Sevilay KARAHAN, Sibel LAÇİNEL GÜRLEVİK, Pembe Derin OYGAR, Yasemin ÖZSÜREKÇİ, Kübra AYKAÇ, Mehmet CEYHAN, Ali Bülent CENGİZ, Sare İLBAY, Musa Gürel KUKUL, Burcu Ceylan CURA YAYLA

Characteristics and Management of Children with COVID-19 in Turkey

Aims: Limited data about disease management strategies are available for pediatric patients with coronavirus disease-2019, particularly in Turkey. This study aimed to share the data on patients aged under 18 years in our country to be beneficial for understanding the disease course in children.Methods: A retrospective review of the medical records of pediatric patients aged under 18 years who were confirmed as coronavirus disease-2019 between March 11, and June 23, 2020, and were admitted to our hospitals was conducted.Results: A total of 220 pediatric patients with coronavirus disease-2019 were evaluated, of which 48.2% were boys, with a median age of 10 years, and 9.5% had underlying diseases. Patients were classified according to severity, with the percentages of asymptomatic, mild, moderate, and critical/severe cases determined to be 25.5%, 45%, 26.8%, and 2.7%, respectively. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was required in two patients (0.9%) and mechanical ventilation in three (1.4%). Targeted therapies were used in six patients (2.7%), with hydroxychloroquine being the most commonly used agent either alone (one patient) or in combination with favipiravir (five patients). Two patients (0.9%) died, and nine (4.1%) were still hospitalized during the study period.Conclusion: Although the disease course of coronavirus disease-2019 seems to be mild in children, critical illness is significant, and the treatmentstrategyprimarilyshouldconsistofsupportivecareaccording to our preliminary observations.

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