BackgroundThe incidence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) in children has been increasing worldwide since the onset of the pandemic. This study examined the risk factors and characteristics of COVID‐19 among pediatric patients compared to other respiratory viral infections.MethodsThis was a prospective cross‐sectional study. Patients aged 0–18 years presenting with respiratory symptoms from October 2020 to December 2021 were included. Demographic and clinical data were reviewed.ResultsIn total, 738 pediatric patients were enrolled. Of these, 48.5% had COVID‐19, and 41.3% were infected with another respiratory virus. The COVID‐19 incidence increased from 0.5% during the original strain outbreak (October 2020 to March 2021) to 56.5% and 73.4% during the alpha (April to June 2021) and delta (July to December 2021) periods, respectively. Children aged 6‐18 years, being female, obesity, exposure to household members with COVID‐19, and the delta period were risk factors for COVID‐19. Being aged 1‐5 years, obesity, shortness of breath, productive cough, and chest pain were associated with COVID‐19 pneumonia. Children aged 5–18 years, underlying neurological disease, a history of COVID‐19 pneumonia, and the delta period were associated with long COVID.ConclusionsPediatric COVID‐19 patients presenting with respiratory symptoms who are obese or have been exposed to household members with COVID‐19 should be tested for COVID‐19. COVID‐19 patients who are obese, younger than five years old, or who present with shortness of breath, productive cough, or chest pain should be evaluated for pneumonia. COVID‐19 patients with a history of COVID‐19 pneumonia or underlying neurological disease should receive follow‐up for long COVID.

中文翻译：

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有呼吸道症状的儿科患者严重急性呼吸综合征冠状病毒2感染率

背景自大流行爆发以来，2019 年冠状病毒病（COVID-19）在全球儿童中的发病率一直在增加。本研究比较了儿科患者中 COVID-19 的危险因素和特征，并与其他呼吸道病毒感染进行了比较。方法这是一项前瞻性横断面研究。纳入2020年10月至2021年12月期间出现呼吸道症状的0-18岁患者。回顾了人口统计学和临床​​数据。结果总共纳入了 738 名儿童患者。其中，48.5% 感染了 COVID-19，41.3% 感染了另一种呼吸道病毒。 COVID-19的发病率从最初菌株爆发期间（2020年10月至2021年3月）的0.5%分别增加到α期（2021年4月至6月）和δ期（2021年7月至12月）期间的56.5%和73.4%。 6-18 岁儿童、女性、肥胖、接触患有 COVID-19 的家庭成员以及三角洲期是 COVID-19 的危险因素。 1-5 岁时，肥胖、气短、咳嗽和胸痛与 COVID-19 肺炎相关。 5-18 岁儿童、潜在神经系统疾病、COVID-19 肺炎病史和 Delta 期与长期 COVID 相关。 结论 出现呼吸道症状、肥胖或曾接触过患有 COVID 的家庭成员的儿科 COVID-19 患者‐19 应接受 COVID-19 检测。肥胖、五岁以下或出现呼吸短促、咳嗽或胸痛的 COVID-19 患者应接受肺炎评估。有 COVID-19 肺炎病史或潜在神经系统疾病史的 COVID-19 患者应接受长期 COVID 随访。