Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/70130/6172
Title: Nationwide descriptive study of COVID-19 in children below the age of 14 years in Sri Lanka
Authors: Cabraal, M N S
Samarawickrama, R I U
Kodithuwakk, K A R R
Viswakula, S.D.
Lantra, S R
Keywords: COVID-19, SARS CoV-2, Paediatric age group, WHO, Epidemiological
Issue Date: 2021
Citation: Cabraal, M.N.S., Samarawickrama, R.I.U., Kodithuwakku, K.A.R.R., Viswakula, S.D. and Lantra, S.R., 2021. Nationwide descriptive study of COVID-19 in children below the age of 14 years in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 50(1), pp.103–109. DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v50i1.9410
Abstract: Background: Corona virus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel corona virus which originated in China and spread worldwide to become a global pandemic. Objectives: To identify the demographic and clinical characteristics of children below the age of 14 years with COVID-19 in Sri Lanka. Method: This was a retrospective, cross sectional descriptive study. Data of all COVID-19 positive patients below age of 14 years detected in Sri Lanka from 16/03/2020 to 20/09/2020 were analysed with R version 4.0.2, R Studio 1.3.959 and SPSS version 27. Descriptive plots and tables were obtained. Results: During the study period, a total of 78 patients below the age of 14 years were detected in Sri Lanka. This constituted 2.4% of the total number of patients in the country. Children of all age groups were affected, 33.3% belonging to the 1-5 year age group. Of the total, 55.1% were asymptomatic, 42.3% had mild disease and 2.6% had moderate disease. Common clinical manifestations were dry cough and fever. Median duration of hospital stay was 18 days. There were 53 local patients and 25 imported patients; 78.3% had a close family member diagnosed with COVID-19. Conclusions: During the 6 month study period 78 COVID-19 positive patients below the age of 14 years were detected in Sri Lanka. Of them 55.1% were asymptomatic, 42.3% had mild disease and 2.6% had moderate disease. Common clinical manifestations were dry cough and fever; 78.3% had a close family member diagnosed with COVID-19. Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2021; 50(1): 103-109
URI: DOI: http://doi.org/10.4038/sljch.v50i1.9410
http://archive.cmb.ac.lk:8080/xmlui/handle/70130/6172
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