Clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Omicron variant infection in children

Qu Yanning; Guo Linlin; Sheng Mengyi; Duan Zhuyan; Wanghui; Guo Linying

doi:10.11986/j.issn.1673-873X.2024.S1.12

Abstract：Objective To analyze the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 Omicron variant infection in children presenting to the emergency department,covering epidemiological data,symptom manifestations,treatment plans,and disease course.Methods A total of 1,313 children diagnosed with Omicron variant infection in the Emergency Department of Children's Hospital,Capital Institute of Pediatrics from November 15,2022,to January 31,2023,were selected.Basic information,clinical manifestations,treatment methods,and outcomes of the children were collected through questionnaires and statisti-cally analyzed.Results Overall,1,313 valid questionnaires were collected.The results showed that male children were slightly more than female peers with infections(1.2∶1),and the highest proportion of infections was in school-age children(37.7%).Mild cases accounted for 86.3%,moderate cases for 8.7%,severe cases for 2.3%,and asymptomatic infections for 2.7%.The main clinical manifestations were fever(95.1%),cough(45.6%),and nasal congestion and rhinorrhea(29.9%),with significant differences in symptom distribution among different age groups(P<0.05).In terms of treat-ment plans,ibuprofen was the main medication used(61.5%),and the use of antibiotics was low(5.9%).Disease course analysis indicated that most children recovered within 1 to 7 days(80.6%),with a relatively longer course in adolescents.Age and body temperature were significantly positively correlated with the duration of the disease(P<0.05),while gender and vaccination status had no significant impact on the disease course(P>0.05).Conclusion The clinical manifestations of COVID-19 Omicron variant infection in children remain mainly mild,with fever being the most common symptom.The in-fection rate is higher in school-age children,and the disease course is longer in adolescents.Age and body temperature are important factors influencing the disease course,indicating that special attention should be paid to the treatment and recover-y of older children and cases with high fever in clinical management.This study provides an important reference for the clini-cal management of COVID-19 in children,but future research is warranted to expand the sample size and conduct prospec-tive studies to further understand the impact of the Omicron variant.