Covid-19 characterization in a pediatric oncology service: cross-sectional study
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.18066/revistaunivap.v32i74.4720Palavras-chave:
COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2, Children, Adolescent healthResumo
Children and teenagers with cancer who contract COVID-19 have increased risks compared to the general pediatric population. However, there is a scarcity of information about this specific group in our regional context. The objective of this study was to describe the clinical characteristics of COVID-19 in children and adolescents treated at a reference children's hospital for cancer treatment. This was a cross-sectional study, based on the analysis of medical records of patients treated between March 2020 and May 2021, with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fifteen patients were diagnosed with COVID-19, aged between 2 and 20 years; 73.3% were male. Eleven required hospitalizations. The most frequent symptoms were cough, runny nose, fever, dyspnea, headache, and gastrointestinal manifestations; four patients remained asymptomatic. Regarding the oncological diagnosis, seven had leukemia, five had central nervous system (CNS) tumors, and three had solid tumors. Laboratory tests revealed leukopenia with neutropenia. Radiological findings included diffuse pulmonary infiltrate, consolidation, and a pattern suggestive of Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS). We observed a higher frequency of hospitalization among symptomatic patients and those who used a higher number of medications. All patients recovered and were discharged. We conclude that, despite the high hospitalization rate, the clinical evolution in this series was favorable. The data reinforce the importance of continuous surveillance, testing and isolation protocols, as well as specialized clinical support and preventive strategies to ensure the continuity of cancer treatment and better clinical outcomes.
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