Predictors and Outcomes of Pediatric COVID 19 Cases in Recent Scenario: Systematic Review & Meta Analysis

Abstract

Background – Studies summarizing the clinical findings of COVID 19 in children are lacking. So, we aimed to provide a comprehensive meta-analysis and systematic review of previously published papers related to clinical features and lab findings of COVID -19 in pediatric population.

Methods – a systematic search and meta-analysis of scientific literatures was conducted by using PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Medline, google Scholar databases. Studies were reviewed for methodological quality, and random-effects model was used to conduct the primary meta-analysis. I² value and Egger’s test was used to estimate heterogeneity and publication bias respectively.

Results – we reviewed 10 eligible studies that included 1215 pediatric population with PCR tested COVID -19 positive. The most frequent symptoms were fever, cough, vomiting, diarrhea, sore throat, and dyspnea. Regarding the combined results of the meta-analysis, fever (60%), cough (78%), dyspnea (74%) and pharyngalgia (59%) were the most widely reported symptom. Besides, positive RT-PCR test results, elevated inflammatory markers including  Procal (92 %), D- Dimer (82%)  and CRP (73 % ) were the most common laboratory findings.

Conclusion - COVID-19 is prevalent across all pediatric age-groups and presents with varying degree of symptomology. However, children have a milder course of the disease with extremely favorable prognosis.Future longitudinal studies are needed to confirm our findings and better understand which patients are at increased risk for developing severe inflammation and multi organ failure.